Defending champion University of Batangas kept its back-to-back title bid alive, sweeping Centro Escolar University, 25-17, 25-20, 25-23, to advance to the Final Four of the PGFlex Linoleum-UCAL Season 9 Volleyball Championships on Friday, November 6, before its wildly cheering home crowd at the Millennium Gym in Batangas City.
Drawing inspiration from Jimmy Casabuena, the UB Brahmans weathered every challenge from the CEU Scorpions, particularly in the third set, to arrange an intriguing semifinal showdown with second-seeded and outright semifinalist Immaculada Concepcion College Blue Hawks.
(C) UCAL
Clinching the fourth and final semifinal berth was Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas, which outclassed Manila Central University, 25-20, 25-13, 25-14, behind Darren Talban’s 20-point performance.
The Dolphins, however, face a daunting task in the semifinals as they take on top-seeded Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas in the other one-game knockout match.
All semifinal matches are scheduled for Tuesday, November 10.
LPU-B, ICC, and UB actually finished with identical 7-1 records at the end of the single-round eliminations, but LPU-B and ICC secured the two outright semifinal berths by virtue of their higher point totals.
Meanwhile, CEU and LPU-B completed the women’s Final Four cast after pulling off hard-earned victories over their respective quarterfinal opponents in the tournament sponsored by Smart, Puso.com, Hapee Toothpaste, Mighty Bond, Spalding, Maruyama, Gerry’s Grill, Crane, Vital Purified Water, and Akari.
(C) UCAL
The Lady Scorpions, led by Clarenz Aztoveza, arranged a Final Four showdown with the still-undefeated ICC Lady Blue Hawks after escaping the Philippine Women’s University Lady Patriots, 25-19, 25-15, 22-25, 23-25, 15-13.
(C) UCAL
The LPU-B Lady Pirates, meanwhile, outlasted the PCU-D Lady Dolphins, 20-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-21, to arrange a semifinal clash with longtime rivals UB Lady Brahmans.
Aztoveza starred with 21 points on 14 attacks, four blocks, and three aces, while Trixie Rostro led LPU-B with 23 points, including 18 attacks, two blocks, and three aces.
