Colegio de San Juan de Letran had to dig deep to outlast Mapua University in a two-hour, five-set thriller, 18-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-13 in the NCAA Season 98 Men’s Seniors Volleyball Tournament, Friday at the San Andres Sports Complex.
With the Knights leading 13-12 in the fifth set, the Cardinals called for a block touch challenge in the ensuing play but were deemed unsuccessful to send the former to match point.
Alvin Macadandang answered back to cut the deficit to one but Vince Himzon went down the line to finish the game for Letran.
Team captain Michael Doria produced 19 points built on 17 attacks with one service ace. Himzon notched 18 points, including three blocks, while Justine Alejandro bagged 16 points on 15 attacks, along with five excellent digs.
Raxel Catris chimed in 16 excellent receptions and 14 excellent digs, while Andrei Tongio got 24 excellent sets with an ace.
On the other hand, Benedict San Andres racked up a game-high 26 points on 22 attacks and four aces to go with 25 excellent receptions and nine digs that all went for naught.
Peter Sanado scored 17 points on 15 attacks, including two blocks, while Karl Lastimosa and Macadandang supplied 14 points each. Juancho Barba chipped in 23 excellent sets and Jeremy Santos with 17 excellent receptions.
Earlier in the morning, San Sebastian College-Recoletos dominated Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-15, 25-17, 25-21.
The Golden Stags dominated the first two sets but in the third, the Pirates were able to keep in step at 17-all.
But San Sebastian had other plans as it sparked a 7-3 run capped by Aaron Binondo’s attack that sent the game to match point.
Kyle Villamor and Andrei Yape scored 13 points each, with the former adding nine excellent receptions, and four excellent digs, while Jerick Cagang got 11 points.
Kerk Araño gave a solid performance of 12 excellent sets and five blocks; Miguel Leal produced 10 excellent receptions and four excellent digs.
Meanwhile, the Pirates had no double-digit scorer, as Jeric Porto and Eugene Del Rio were the only high scorer for the team who both got eight points.
San Sebastian, Letran, and Mapua are now tied with a 1-1 record at the third spot, while Lyceum is still winless in two games.
