De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde bucked a sluggish start to repulse Mapua University, 15-25, 23-25, 28-26, 25-13. 15-10, to remain alive in the NCAA Season 99 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Blazers clawed back from two sets down to pull off a reverse sweep against the streaking Cardinals to improve to 3-4 and keep their Final Four hopes alive. Mapua, meanwhile, snapped its two-game winning streak to go 2-5.
Starring for the Taft crew was the troika of James Marasigan, Mike Balbacal, and Jacob Herrera as they stunned the Cardinals, who blew a 17-11 lead in the third frame before the Blazers snatched the momentum and forced a 24-all deadlock.
Mapua had the chance to win it in sweep after securing two crucial match points, but the Blazers countered with a 3-0 to close the set and extend the match.
It was a quick fourth set affair for Benilde, which quickly buckled down to business to send the game into a decider.
Errors tormented Mapua in the endgame with Barbie San Andres' infraction error sending Benilde to a 7-3 lead while Balbacal's quick kill made it an 11-6 cushion for the Taft crew.
Herrera then completed a combination play while Arnel Aguilar's attack from the left wing finished it off for the Blazers.
Marasigan rose and shone with 19 points on top of seven digs and eight receptions while Balbacal and Herrera churned out 18 and 17 markers, respectively.
San Andres' 27-point outing went for naught as Mapua failed to extend its streak to three following their big wins against Letran and JRU.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
