Arellano University blemished a previously spotless record of Mapua University with a hard-fought 25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 25-22 win in the NCAA Season 100 men’s volleyball tournament.
The Chiefs came out prepared and armed behind starters Carl Berdal, AC Guinto, Jiwen Sinuto, Anfernee Curamen, and Jake Pangilinan to bounce back from a previous loss to San Sebastian College-Recoletos and improve to 7-4.
The Cardinals, who have been invincible the past 10 games, absorbed their first loss but still hold the top spot at 10-1.
Graduating Berdal posted a team-high 18 points and 14 receptions while Guinto and Sinuto both tallied 14 markers. Middle blockers Curamen and Pangilian, meanwhile, finished with 12 and 11 points apiece.
"Thankful po kami kasi sobrang hirap kalaban ng Mapua and alam naman po natin na maayos sila sa floor defense and 'yung mga ace players po nila ang gagaling din," Berdal said.
"Nag-double effort lang po talaga kami and nag-training talaga kami kahit nu'ng Holy Week."
Arellano didn't waste any time imposing its will after taking the first two sets convincingly, but the Cardinals banked on veteran Barbie San Andres in the third frame to extend the match.
Mapua then opened the fourth with a 2-0 start, but Arellano was quick to regroup, answering with an 8-3 rampage led by Guinto as they took an 8-5 lead.
Guinto and Curamen joined forces at the net to deny a Saint Jamisola opposite attack before Sinuto made something out of a broken play to bring the Chiefs to a 15-9 advantage.
Berdal then just took charge the rest of the way, first ending a long rally with a strong hammer then unleashing a cross court kill to make it a comfortable 22-14 advantage.
But San Andres found his groove late, unloading three straight attacks before Guinto committed an error that allowed Mapua to trim the gap to three, 21-24.
Curamen, another graduating player for Arellano, finished it off after completing a running play against the single block of San Andres.
San Andres top-scored Mapua with 28 points and 16 receptions while Arjay Ramos chipped in 16 markers and eight digs in the losing effort.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
