The San Beda Lady Red Spikers and the Perpetual ALTAs gutted out statement wins over the defending champions of their respective divisions to keep their surge rolling in the NCAA Season 101 volleyball tournament.
And they had Angel Habacon and Klint Mateo to thank for it.
Third-year Habacon pumped in a triple-double outing with 22 points, 15 receptions, and 11 digs in a thrilling 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory over reigning four-time champions De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde last Saturday.
Before that, the high-leaping outside spiker powered San Beda to a 26-28, 26-24, 27-25, 25-20 win over Mapua University with 22 big points and 10 receptions.
Habacon's consistent MVP-like performances have earned her this week’s Collegiate Press Corps’ Player of the Week award presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
With her heroics, San Beda is sitting second in Group B with a 7-1 record, just behind the top-seeded and undefeated Colegio de San Juan de Letran (7-0).
Habacon edged out fellow Lady Red Spiker Janelle Bachar, Perpetual's Jem Menor, and Letran's Judiel Nitura for the weekly citation.
In the men's side, Mateo bagged the third edition of the CPC POW in men’s action after steering the Altas to two straight wins this week and improve to 5-2 in Group A.
One of those victories was a 25-23, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23 win over defending champion Arellano University last Saturday, when the fourth-year setter tallied 14 point and 24 excellent sets to star in the huge upset.
Mateo, a former opposite hitter but was later converted to a setter by late coach Sammy Acaylar, also led a 28-26, 16-25, 25-17, 25-23 win against Letran by dropping nine points on top of 23 excellent sets last February 10.
Mateo bested Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Ruther Abor, Letran’s Bembem Bautista, San Beda’s Axel Van Book, and Benilde’s Rocky Motol for the weekly plum.
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
