The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA displayed its championship poise when most needed, outlasting last year's finals foe Emilio Aguinaldo College, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13, 18-25, 15-4, in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament on Saturday.
The defending champions ALTAs, who were coming off a streak-ending loss to Arellano University in a similar five-set encounter last week, vented their frustrations on the Generals to improve to 4-1.
EAC, meanwhile, sustained its third straight loss to go 2-3.
With only a set away from victory, the ALTAs lost steam in the fourth set with Frelwin Taculog and Jan Ruther Abor conniving to lift the struggling Generals as they forced a decider.
But it was all Perpetual in the fifth frame as veteran Jeff Marapoc and setter Klint Mateo joined forces to create a 4-0 start that proved to be the game changer for the Las Piñas crew.
Mateo then served up an ace for a 7-1 lead while Marapoc sent them to a 10-2 separation off an attack as EAC seemed to struggle to convert on all cylinders.
Perpetual's seasoned middle blocker Kirth Rosos took advantage of the scrambling defense from EAC, first unleashing a quick kill before linking up with Marapoc in putting a wall against Abor for their bounce back victory.
Marapoc led the charge with 20 points anchored on 17 attacks and three aces alongside 16 receptions while opposite hitter Kobe Tabuga chipped in 19 markers.
EAC's loss saw Abor charging with 23 points while Paul Justine Say and Taculog each chipped in 12 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
