Mapua University bucked a slow start before dismantling Lyceum of the Philippines University in sweep, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 in the NCAA Season 100 men’s volleyball on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Cardinals returned to their winning ways after a shock loss to Arellano University last Sunday, improving to 11-2. The Pirates, meanwhile, slipped to 2-10.
But the win didn’t come without a challenge for the league-leading Cardinals.
They overcame an early deficit in the second set with Jun Edang and the rest of the Pirates giving them a scare, but veterans Barbie San Andres and Ar-jay Ramos showed the way to lead Mapua to a 2-0 set advantage.
LPU continued to threaten the Cardinals after taking a 15-14 lead on a denial against Ramos. San Andres, though, responded with back-to-back attacks to power a 3-0 blast that made it a 17-15 lead for Mapua.
San Andres then unleashed two consecutive aces to send the Cardinals to a comfortable 23-18 cushion. LPU retaliated with a run of its own, scoring four consecutive points to cut the gap to a solitary point at 22-23.
But Ramos found the finishing kick, unloading two kills from the left wing as Mapua regained its winning formula and solidify its hold of the top spot.
San Andres starred anew after scattering 26 points on 22 attacks and four aces laced with 13 receptions while Ramos chipped in 19 markers and 10 digs.
Edang and John Cielo paced LPU with 13 points apiece while Jhoj Aquino chipped in 11 markers in the gallant stand.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
