Veterans Louie Ramirez and Jeff Marapoc took turns to lead University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in thwarting Arellano University, 25-19, 25-21, 25-23, and punching their return trip to the Final Four of NCAA Season 99 men's volleyball tournament on Sunday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The graduating Ramirez flaunted another all-around performance, pouring in 15 points and 12 receptions while Marapoc churned out 14 markers and four digs to help the ALTAs remain unbeaten in seven games.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, absorbed their second straight loss to go 4-3.
Ramirez' kill sent the Las Piñas crew to a first set win before he connected for three consecutive attacks that shut down Arellano's momentum and give Perpetual a 17-15 cushion in the second.
They then cruised to a commanding 2-0 set lead after a Kobe Tabuga hammer from the opposite side to close out the second frame.
However, the ALTAs' job didn't get easier as the Chiefs staged a fightback in the third set with the core of Jiwen Sinuto, AC Guinto, and Anfernee Curamen rallying Arellano in bid to extend the match.
Middle blocker Curamen won a joust against Mike Medalla that cut what was once a five-point deficit to just one, 18-19, in the final stretch, but KC Andrade sent Perpetual to the match point, 24-21.
Arellano would still answer with back-to-back points, however, an attack error from Sinuto at the back row proved costly as the ALTAs completed yet another blowout.
Andrade, Medalla, and Tabuga each tallied nine points as veteran setter JC Enarciso unleashed 17 excellent sets.
Despite the win, the ALTAs are setting their sights on a bigger goal: to earn an outright championship berth by virtue of sweeping the regular season.
"Masaya pero hindi pa namin iniisip na pasok na kami sa Final Four kasi gusto naming i-sweep 'yung elimination para diretso kami sa Finals," Ramirez told GMA News Online.
"May two games pa kami kaya 'di pa kami nagre-relax."
(We're happy but we're not yet thinking of getting in the Final Four because we want to sweep the eliminations so we can go straight to the Finals. We still have two games so we won't relax.)
Perpetual still has two remaining games in the elimination round, taking on Benilde on Wednesday and EAC next Sunday while Arellano will face EAC on Friday and JRU on May 7.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
