After defeating Jose Rizal University in five sets (25-27, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11) in the NCAA Season 98 men’s volleyball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila, Emilio Aguinaldo College reinforced its hold on the third seed.
Jan Abor led the Generals to their sixth victory in eight games with 29 points supported by 26 attacks and 3 blocks. Joshua Ramilo continued to play consistently with 26 points and 17 digs, and Marvin Romero contributed 19 more points and 10 excellent receptions to the triumph.
The Generals and the Heavy Bombers engaged in a tug-of-war throughout the first four sets, and the last set was no different. The Generals won by just one point, 11-10, thanks to an attack error by Windel Laurenciana late in the fifth.
Joshua Ramilo converted an off-the-block kill to give the Generals a two-point advantage after a sequence of plays, making the score 13-11. Marvin Romero then scored the final two points, including a forceful attack off a combination play to put an end to the two-and-a-half-hour match.
The second-ranked Arellano University will be the team’s final opponent in the elimination round, according to EAC head coach Rod Palmero.
“Hindi ko muna iniisip yung pag-angat namin sa standings. Ang focus namin yung mga pagkakamali namin ngayon; ‘yun yung mga dapat i-improve namin para makuha namin yung (ranking) sa taas. And kailangan naming kunin yung last game, so pag-aaralan naming mabuti (yung Arellano),” said Palmero.
The 20-point outbursts from Ken Dynata and Laurencia were in vain, as JRU is now in danger of missing the postseason after dropping to 3-5. Laurencia scored 23 points and had 23 excellent receptions, while Dynata scored 20 points and had 15 receptions.
Lyceum of the Philippines University was eliminated by University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in straight sets (25-13, 25-14, 25-16) and is now just one victory away from securing an outright finals slot.
JC Enarciso once more left his mark on the game by tossing 18 excellent sets to lead the Altas to their 30th straight victory overall and make them 8-0 in this tournament.
After a powerful attack by Vergel Golloso, the Pirates were just two down at the end of the first set, 12-10. However, Perpetual quickly established a lead and went on a 13-3 run en route to winning set one 25-13.
With 13 points each, Louie Ramirez and Joshua Zareno led the team’s overwhelming performance in the following two sets.
Lyceum’s Season 98 campaign came to an end with nine losses after Kier Tibayan and Harvie Dizon scored a total of 10 points for the team.
