The Mapua University Cardinals came to play, wanting to shock the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas.
However, despite that first set they lost the whole season, the Altas kept their unblemished record intact, upending the Cards, 23-25, 32-30, 25-19, 25-20, Tuesday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Four spikers finished in double digits for the Altas, with rookie Joebert Almodiel picking up 18 points. Ronnie Rosales registered 15 markers, three of them blocks, while Jun Taneo and Ridzuan Muhali both had 11.
Mapua capitalized on Perpetual’s miscues on attack and on serve to pocket the first frame, before almost duplicating the same in the second set.
Nonetheless, the Altas turned to their net defense to pull off the 2-1 advantage. The Season 91 champions tallied nine blocks at the end of the contest.
Head coach Sammy Acaylar saw that scenario coming after the last two tuneup games they’d had. And in the game, the seasoned mentor observed that, “Bukod sa naging overconfident, naging complacent sila.”
“Lagi ko silang nire-remind na kahit sinong kalaban, i-respeto niyo,” he added.
His words pierced through the minds of the Perpetual squad, and from there they simply executed what had to be done.
Four players also posted twin-digit points for Mapua with seniors Sam Damian and Anjo Pertierra both ended with 14 markers.
The Altas (7-0) will try to follow up on this character-building win as they face the winless but dangerous Colegio de San Juan de Letran (0-7) on Friday. The Cardinals (5-3) will face the College of Saint Benilde (5-2) in a must-win match on Thursday.
The Scores:
UPHSD 3 – Almodiel 18, Rosales 15, Taneo Jr. 11, Muhali 11, Ramos 8, Solamilo 6, Catipay 2, Atentar 2, Salo 0, Kalingking L, Balmores L.
MU 1 – Damian 14, Pertierra 14, Pagulong 12, Egan 10, Hizon 8, Navera 5, Evangelista 1, Andaya 0, Bondoc L.
