Youthful University of Perpetual Help System DALTA flipped the switch late to complete a 28-26, 16-25, 25-17, 25-23 win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA Season 101 men's volleyball on Tuesday at the San Andres Sports Complex.
The ALTAs, led by 12 rookies and three key holdovers, erased a five-point deficit in Set 4 to defeat the Knights and secure their fourth consecutive win, improving to 4-2 in Group A. Letran, meanwhile, absorbed back-to-back losses to go 2-3 in Group B.
Klint Mateo, one of the remaining players from their Season 100 squad, orchestrated the offense masterfully, logging 23 excellent sets and chipping in nine crucial points.
Mateo's playmaking helped four ALTAs post double-digit marks with Jester Bornel leading the way with 15 points and Marc Tongon churning out 13 markers which came along with 11 receptions. John Castil and Dexter Arrozado chipped in 10 points each.
Their collective effort allowed them to turn an 8-13 deficit in Set 4 into an 18-all deadlock thanks to a quick play from Arky Corpuz. The Knights would eventually forc a 21-21 stalemate, but Perpetual staged a massive run to close it out.
Zain Mohammad challenged the blocking of Letran from the opposite with his powerful spike before he joined forces with Corpuz and Arrozado to unload a triple block against Bembem Bautista, bringing the Las Piñas crew to a 23-21 cushion.
Letran answered with back-to-back points but a dump from Arrozado stopped the Letran rally and sealed it for the Perpetual, which opened its campaign with two straight losses to Benilde and JRU.
Bautista's double-double outing of 19 points and 16 receptions went for naught as Letran absorbed its third loss of the season. Middle blockers Dave Lardizabal and Vince Himzon, meanwhile, chipped in 16 and 15 markers, respectively.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
