Barbie San Andres' absence hardly affected Mapua University as the streaking Cardinals hacked out a 25-23, 25-19, 25-22 win over De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA Season 101 men's volleyball on Wednesday at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Without their top gunner, the Cardinals stunned the higher-ranked Blazers to grab their fourth win in the last five games to improve to 7-6 in Group A while Benilde saw the end to its six-game streak to go 9-4.
Despite the loss, though, the Blazers are still assured of a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals after finishing second in their group behind top-seeded University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (10-3).
The Cardinals finished third and will face a twice-to-win disadvantage against Group B second seed San Beda University.
Arjay Ramos carried the offensive load for Mapua after dropping a team-high 19 points laced with seven receptions while John Cris Galicia gladly welcomed the challenge of filling San Andres' shoes, finishing with 11 markers and five digs.
After winning the first two sets, Mapua had to shrug off a slow start in Set 3 after Benilde built a 15-12 cushion when they denied Ramos. But middle blocker Adrian Patrick Musni sparked the comeback, unloading two quick attacks in a row before burying a service ace for a 20-16 turnaround.
The Cardinals continued to flip the switch since then as Ramos fired a hammer from the back row for a 21-17 lead before another kill from him made it a 23-20 advantage.
The Blazers then mounted a fightback behind reigning MVP Rocky Motol and high-leaping opposite spiker Reymark Betco, trimming the gap to just a point, 22-23.
But Olsen Jamisola and Ramos connived for the last two points with the latter releasing a cross-court bullet that sealed the sweep victory for the Cardinals.
Motol, who did not see action in Set 2, finished with eight points while Alvin Sulayman top-scored the Blazers with 12 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
