The teams of University of Perpetual Help System DALTA inched closer to a sweep of the elimination round as Day 3 games of the NCAA Season 98 beach volleyball tournament closed on Thursday in Subic, Zambales.
After winning their morning games, both the women's and men's team of Perpetual notched respective wins in the afternoon, with the Lady Altas defeating Mapua, 21-9, 21-10, while the men's team overcame the Cardinals, 21-16, 21-12.
The two teams improved to 7-0, two wins away from a sweep of the elimination round and comfortably held their positions for Final Four spots.
The Lady Altas is composed of Mary Rhose Dapol and Janine Padua, while the men's team is composed of Louie Ramirez and Jefferson Marapoc.
On the women's side, Emilio Aguinaldo College and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran fortified their hold of possible semifinals slots as both squads ended Day 3 with identical 6-1 records.
The Lady Knights defeated San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 21-12, 21-13, and Lyceum of the Philippines University, 21-14, 21-13, in the afternoon session.
After getting a loss and a win in the morning, the Lady Generals defeated San Beda in straight sets, 21-17, 21-14.
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde survived Jose Rizal University, 21-15, 22-20. The last moments of the Benilde-JRU match saw Yanyan Alona being stretchered out of the court after a bad fall.
Perpetual (7-0), EAC (6-1), Letran (6-1), San Beda (4-2) make up the top four spots of the women's division standings, while Benilde (4-3), San Sebastian (3-3), Arellano (2-5), Mapua (1-6), LPU (1-6), and JRU (0-7) complete the next six.
The men's division saw some changes of personnel in the afternoon session as Mapua's Saint Marlowe Jamisola was replaced by John Benedict San Andres due to health condition, while LPU's Vergel Golloso was replaced by Jansen Palad with the former suffering from muscle strain.
The Generals defeated Mapua, 21-12, 21-16, while the Pirates fell to Letran, 21-10, 21-12.
Benilde outlasted JRU in three sets, 20-22, 21-12, 15-8, while EAC capped the day with a 26-24, 21-9 win over San Beda.
The first four spots in the men's division belonged to Perpetual (7-0), EAC (6-1), Arellano (5-1), San Beda (4-3), while San Sebastian (3-3), Benilde (3-4), Letran (3-4), Mapua (3-4), LPU (0-7), and JRU (0-7) composed the next six.
The top four teams will advance to the semifinals, with the top two holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
Games will resume on Friday for the last day of the elimination round.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
