Colegio de San Juan de Letran locked up the third seed ahead of the NCAA Season 99 men's volleyball semis after surviving also-ran San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 25-13, 22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 17-15, on Wednesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Knights, who joined Perpetual, EAC, and Arellano in the Final Four round, ended the regular season with a 6-3 card while the Stags fell short of ending their campaign on a high note as they dropped to 4-5.
The troika of Steven Sta. Maria, John Derrick Bautista, and Vince Himzon asserted their dominance with the former pouring in 20 points anchored on 17 attacks.
Meanwhile, rookie outside hitter Bautista churned out 17 points built on 10 attacks, four blocks, and three service aces on top of 15 receptions while reigning Rookie of the Year Himzon put together 16 markers.
Letran had to extinguish the comeback attempt from San Sebastian in the fifth set with Kyle Villamor unleashing back-to-back cross court attacks as the Stags cut their deficit to one, 11-12.
Himzon then buried a familiar quick attack for the match point, 14-12. The Stags, though, were able to force another deadlock at 14-all after a Cedric Lim hammer.
Bautista delivered the clutch for their third match point before his own ace sealed it for the Knights.
Two more players from Letran put up double digit scoring with John Lorenzo and Dennis Domalanta each chipping in 13 markers. Villamor top-scored San Sebastina with 23 points while Joshua Espenida chimed in with 16.
Letran will now face Arellano University in the first round of the stepladder semifinals slated on Sunday with the winner advancing to the next round against second-seeded Emilio Aguinaldo College.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
