Emilio Aguinaldo College stormed back from five points down in Set 1 to complete a 26-24, 25-22, 25-21 win over Lyceum of the Philippines University in the NCAA Season 101 men's volleyball on Saturday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
The Generals erased a 19-24 deficit in the opening frame by unleashing a massive 6-0 run to set the tone for the straight-set romp, improving to 8-4 in Group B and sending the Pirates to 2-11.
EAC has already secured an outright quarterfinal berth alongside defending champion Arellano University (8–4), but it can still clinch the top seed depending on the outcome of its matchup with the Chiefs on Wednesday.
The Generals, who were reeling from a tough five-set loss to San Beda last Sunday, suffered a sluggish start against the lowly LPU as the Pirates launched a triple block to deny Frelwin Taculog and clinch the set point in the opening frame, 24-19.
Taculog, however, atoned for it and sparked a pivotal 6-0 blast.
The 23-year-old outside spiker ignited the surge with a kill from the left wing, while middle blocker Michael Gela and opposite hitter Jan Ruther Abor chipped in during the rally that allowed EAC to snatch Set 1, 26–24.
From there, EAC never looked back.
They turned a narrow 16-15 lead in Set 3 to a 23-19 cushion thanks to a powerful hammer from Abor in the right side before a service error from LPU saw the Generals reach the match point at 24-20.
Ralph Tamayo finished it off, taking advantage of a single block from LPU and detonating for the game-winning spike.
Taculog posted a double-double effort of 20 points and 18 receptions while Abor poured in 16 markers and four digs. Gela chipped in 13 points built on five blocks.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
