Jem Menor stepped on the gas when it mattered most to help the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA carve a 25-14, 25-22, 25-20 win against Jose Rizal University in the NCAA Season 101 women's volleyball tournament on Sunday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
The 20-year-old outside spiker delivered timely hits down the stretch, helping the Lady ALTAs fend off a spirited Set 3 comeback from the Lady Bombers and bounce back from a previous loss to Benilde.
Menor tallied 11 points and eight digs, providing stability on both ends, while Charisse Enrico dominated at the net with 15 markers built on three emphatic blocks. Cyrille Almeniana and Camille Bustamante added 13 points apiece, stepping up in support as veteran Shai Omipon saw limited action, appearing only in Sets 2 and 3.
The victory allowed Perpetual to regain sole possession of the Group A lead with a 9-2 record and claim a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, while JRU dropped to 2-9.
JRU threatened in the third frame by forcing a 15-all deadlock after Julia Dimatawaran returned Enrico's kill in the middle, but Menor scored two points as part of a quick 3-0 swing that saw Perpetual create an 18-15 cushion.
The Lady Bombers continued to lean on Dimatawaran in the next sequence as the young middle blocker unloaded another rejection, this time stopping a combination play from Almeniana to cut the deficit to two, 17-19.
Perpetual, though, mounted a furious 5-1 blast capped by an ace from Omipon for a 24-18 lead.
JRU would still try to stage a rally behind back-to-back blocks from Kring Batara, but Almeniana's down-the-line hit proved to be the game-sealing punch for Perpetual.
Batara led JRU with 13 points built on five blocks while Nicole Deala chipped in 11 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
