The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA ensured it wouldn't fall to the same fate twice, avenging its first-round loss to Jose Rizal University with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 win in the NCAA Season 101 men's volleyball on Sunday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
And the ALTAs did it in a dominant fashion.
Team captain Jester Bornel led the show with 16 points anchored on seven attacks, seven blocks, and two aces while John Castil scattered 13 markers and Khian Andres churned out eight points, nine receptions, and four digs.
The straight-set victory allowed the Las Piñas crew to avenge its 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 17-25, 15-9 loss to JRU in their clash last January 28. That loss, and an opening-day defeat against Benilde, gave Perpetual a tough 0-2 start before winning its next seven games to stage its resurgence.
With the revenge victory, Perpetual improved to 8-3 to regain the solo top spot in Group A and move closer to an outright quarterfinals berth while the Heavy Bombers fell to 1-10 in the same group.
Perpetual flipped a slim 15-16 deficit into a narrow 21-19 lead when Andres launched a missile from the back row, but the Heavy Bombers kept it close with Al-Jecradin Unding unleashing one from the left side to trim the gap to one.
However, the ALTAs went on a pivotal 3-0 rampage capped by an ace from Bornel as they seized the match point at 24-20. JRU refused to surrender, responding with a 3-0 run after Perpetual committed two errors and Unding unloaded another kill.
Castil, though, made sure JRU won't be forcing a deadlock as he completed a combination play to seal the victory and help Perpetual regain its footing following a previous loss to the Blazers.
Paolo Barrientos paced JRU with 13 points and 11 receptions while Unding finished with nine markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
