Arellano University took out its frustrations on the struggling Jose Rizal University, pulling off a decisive 25-19, 25-22, 25-13 win to barge back into the win column of NCAA Season 101 men's volleyball on Wednesday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
The Chiefs leaned on their tried-and-tested trio of Jiwen Sinuto, AC Guinto, and Jake Pangilinan to complete the straight-sets romp, bouncing back from a tough loss to University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. The defending champions improved to 5-2 in Group B while keeping JRU on the slide as the Heavy Bombers fell to a 1-7 card.
Sinuto top-scored with 16 points while Guinto and Pangilinan churned out 14 and 12 markers, respectively. The Chiefs also got huge lift from CJ Dominguito, who poured in six points, 10 digs, and seven digs in the sweep victory that allowed Arellano to bounce back from a 25-23, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23 setback against the ALTAs last Saturday.
But the win did not come without a challenge.
Arellano had to weather a determined JRU fightback in the second set as the Heavy Bombers refused to fold with Al-Jecradin Unding and Jemwill Pacheco pulling the Heavy Bombers to within a point, 22-21, late in the frame.
But Arellano leaned on experience and poise as Sinuto cut JRU's momentum with a kill from the right side before Pangilinan's ace sent Arellano to the set point, 24-21. Sinuto delivered again, blasting a sharp cross-court hit that sealed the 25-22 escape and handed Arellano a commanding 2-0 set lead.
Guinto sparked a blistering 10-2 opening run in the third set to set the tone for a dominant closeout. Ervin Osabel then made his presence felt off the bench, helping stretch Arellano’s lead to a commanding 18-8 cushion.
JRU attempted one last rally with Mathew Mallillin and Pacheco igniting a 3-0 spurt to trim the gap to 20-13.
But the Chiefs’ depth proved too much to overcome as Wainn Cateria fired a bullet from the left wing to make it 22-13 before Arvin Garcia pounced on an overpass to seal the straight-sets victory.
Unding paced JRU with 11 points while team captain Mallillin chipped in 10 markers as the Heavy Bombers continued to miss the services of Harry Ocay and Paolo Barrientos.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
