Defending NCAA champs University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas started strong and needed an even stronger finish to repel the De La Salle University Green Spikers in five thrilling sets, 25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 14-25, 15-12, in in Group B of the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference elimination round at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Perpetual came out of the gates with guns ablaze, trumping their mis-receiving Taft counterparts to take the first two sets of the match. The tides turned, however, when La Salle figured out Perpetual’s serves and passed in the third and fourth sets. The Green Spikers went on to force a classic fifth set handily.
The Altas sprinted to the finish line, capturing a 10-6 lead through solid defensive plays and attacks from Rey Taneo. Raymark Woo powered a late La Salle rally, turning in back-to-back kills to cut the deficit to one, 10-9. But Perpetual made all the big plays down the stretch, getting a boost from an Arjay Onia attack error, then finishing off the match with hits and blocks from the middle spiker John Patrick Ramos.
“Ayan talaga ang problema ng team namin; nagre-relax kapag nakakalamang ng malaki. So ‘yun Ang sinusubukan namin ayusin sa kanila. Kapag malaki nakalamang na, kailangan matapos na namin agad,” reflected Perptual assistant coach Marcelo Joaquin, who has taken over sideline duties for head coach Sammy Acaylar, who is attending to his PSL team, Cignal HD Spikers.
“Sinabi lang namin sa kanila na kalimutan na nila ‘yung mga nangyari bago noong fifth set tapos focus lang. Mabuti nagawa namin tapos naibalik ‘yung serving at receive namin,” he continued.
Cebuano brothers Rey and Relan Taneo topped the Perpetual scoresheet with 16 and 12 points respectively. Middle blockers JP Ramos and Manuel Doliente each contributed 11 markers.
UAAP Scoring champ Raymark Woo blistered for 27 points off 22 spikes, four blocks, and an ace, but was the only Green Spiker in double-digits.
Perpetual (2-0) next face the College of Saint Benilde Blazer (0-1) on August 17, 12 pm, at the PhilSports Arena. La Salle (1-1) will try to bounce back against the National University Bulldogs (1-0) on August 15, 12 pm, also at the PhilSports Arena.
The Scores
UPHSD (3) – Taneo Rey 16, Taneo Relan 12, Doliente 11, Ramos 11, Kasim 6, Sala-an 6, Narvasa 3, Abcede 2, Catipay 2, Muhali 0, Atentae (L), Kalingking (L)
DLSU (2) – Woo 27, Frey 9, Dumago 7, Elorde 7, Onia 6, Asia G. 3, Del Pilar 2, Bacon 1, Marco 0, Movido (L), Asia R. (L)
