By: Rom Anzures
Arellano University kept its hopes of securing a twice-to-beat advantage after eliminating Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 25-15, 25-18, 25-22, in the NCAA Season 98 Mens’ Volleyball tournament, Saturday morning at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
Carl Berdal led the way for the Chiefs with 17 points built on 14 attacks, two blocks, and an ace he laced with nine digs to steer his squad to their seventh win in eight games.
Arellano convincingly won the first two sets after a huge 33-13 advantage in attack points as a result of the Knights’ poor floor defense.
Letran was just within one in the third frame, 19-20, but Berdal and AC Guinto connived to deny the Knights’ any hopes of a comeback.
Guinto contributed 13 points and 12 excellent receptions for the Chiefs, who are set for a virtual battle for second spot against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Tuesday.
Anffernee Curamen put up 12 points on 10 attacks and a pair of aces, while Kim Tan scored 10 for Arellano as well.
The Knights, who have lost three of their last four matches to drop to 4-5, were led by Justine Alejandro’s 10 points while Vince Himzon and Angel Canzana also got nine points apiece.
In the other game, San Beda University improved to 6-3 as it took down lowly San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 25-20, 25-19, 25-17, in both teams’ last elimination round game.
Jerome Lopez led the Mendiola-based squad with 21 excellent sets to go with four points on two attacks, a block, and an ace.
Even after committing 16 errors in the first two sets, the Red Spikers’ defense was the difference between the squads with San Beda putting up a 7-2 advantage in block points, together with a 26-20 lead in the attacking department to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
San Beda built an eight-point lead in the third, 21-13, to assert its dominance over the Golden Stags before getting active on the defensive end anew with back-to-back blocks to end the game that lasted just 68 minutes.
Ken Umali top-scored for the Red Spikers with 13 points on 10 attacks and three blocks along with 16 excellent receptions and six digs, while Ralph Cabalsa chipped in 11 points.
The Red Spikers are now hoping for Mapua to drop its game against Perpetual for them to punch their ticket to the Final Four.
San Sebastian, which finished the tournament at 1-8, was paced by Kyle Villamor’s 15 points and seven digs while Jerick Cagang followed him with seven points.
