Mapua University displayed nerves of steel in pulling off a nail-biting 25-17, 25-23, 16-25, 16-25, 15-13 victory over San Beda University and keeping its unbeaten record intact in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament on Saturday.
The Cardinals braved through their fourth fifth-set match this season to improve to 7-0, forging a two-way tie at the top with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Before this match, Mapua also figured in five-set clashes with Letran, Lyceum, and EAC, all of which saw them come out victorious.
The Red Spikers, meanwhile, put up a gritty fight to drag the league-leading Cardinals to a decider, but ultimately fell to absorb their second loss in a row for an even 4-4 card.
Barbie San Andres led the fifth set turnaround as the fourth-year outside spiker poured 25 points anchored on 21 attacks, two blocks, and two aces together with 10 digs while Ar-jay Ramos provided the ever-steady support with his 21 markers and 10 receptions.
Mapua overcame error-filled third and fourth sets with the likes of Axel Van Book, Ryan Rosman, and Alener Munsing conniving to help San Beda level the affair and come close to dealing the Cardinals their first taste of loss.
San Beda had quite the momentum in the final frame with middle blocker Anrie Bakil winning a joust that sent them to a 6-4 lead, but a San Andres ace put Mapua back on top with an 8-7 cushion.
Ramos then unloaded back-to-back kills, allowing Mapua to force an 11-all deadlock before Ralph Cabalsa's block on Adrian Musni had San Beda taking a crucial 13-12 advantage.
Mapua, however, refused to surrender with Jamisola displaying his late-game heroics by sending back a free ball while a Rosman attack error sent the Cardinals to the match point, 14-13. The lefty Jamisola then served a strong ace that punctuated the hard-fought victory for Mapua.
Book paced San Beda with15 points and three receptions while Rosman and Bakil finished with 14 and 12 markers apiece.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
