There was no defusing the Jose Rizal University Bombers who burst into the win column for the first time in the NCAA Season 92 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Facing a fellow winless squad, the spikers from Shaw Boulevard squeezed past the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals 13-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 15-8 at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Last season’s runners-up, EAC matched JRU point-for-point in the scoring skills but surrendered a staggering 44 errors while JRU had just 29.
The smallest team in the league, JRU was also missing key player Roden Pulongbarit, who injured his right knee last Monday in their loss against the LPU Pirates.
Still, JRU head coach Ryan Dela Paz had full trust his team could gut out a win against the new-look Generals.
“Buo tiwala ko, alam kong kaya nilang tumarabaho nang malinis so pinadiskarte ko na lang sila. Umalalay na lang ako – kaunting reminders lang sa mga kailangan ayusin,” said Dela Paz.
The young mentor now looks to keep his team on the winning track.
“Hardwork [lang para matuloy namin ‘to]. Kasi ayoko na bumalik dito na pagtatawanan lang kami – mahirap ‘yung ganoon. Pare-pareho lang kaming nag-eensayo nang maigi, kailangan mapakita namin ‘yun every game,” Dela Paz continued.
The Generals got break points early in the first set, taking a 4-0 lead thanks to a productive serving stint from Cilocilo. The Bombers’ offense fell silent until the end of the set, allowing EAC to get the early leg up.
But JRU caught crucial breaks in the second and third set. Both close frames, the next two sets saw EAC crumble late, giving up errors and free balls that fueled the Bombers’ attack. The tables turned in the fourth set with the Bombers letting EAC slip away from a 19-all deadlock and force a decider.
But the Generals had run out of steam from there. Tied at 3 in the fifth set, the Bombers sealed the match with a 7-0 run off solid serves. EAC tried to rally back but JRU kept them at bay with solid plays on sideout chances.
Ronaldo Dampitan hopped off the JRU bench in the second set and delivered 21 points while skipper Larry Sioco and Patrick Sulivas each tallied 13 markers.
Opposite hitter Joshua Mina led the Generals with 14 points while Zedrick Cilocilo and Paolo Lim went for 13 and 12, respectively.
Both teams will next play on November 29 with JRU (1-2) taking on the College of Saint Benilde Blazers (2-1) and EAC (0-3) facing the Perpetual Help Altas (1-1).
The Scores
JRU (3) – Dampitan 21, Sioco 13, Sulivas 13, Rabaja 10, Lahaylay 7, Cebrero 4, Estacio 1, Castillo 0, Cruz 0, Francisco 0, Defensor (L), Flor (L)
EAC (2) – Mina 14, Cilocilo 13, Lim 12, Rasing 7, Castellano 4, Gorospe 3, Garcia 2, Sebastian (L)
