Two of the last men’s volleyball champions, Arellano University and the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, face separate challengers as the NCAA Season 101 quarterfinals get underway Sunday at the San Andres Sports Complex.
After topping their own groups, the twice-to-beat Chiefs and the ALTAs now lock horns with San Sebastian College-Recoletos and Colegio de San Juan de Letran at 5 p.m. and 9 a.m., respectively, with a semifinals ticket on the line.
Arellano suffered a heartbreaker against San Sebastian in their only clash last February 21, dropping a 25-23, 15-25, 25-22, 25-22 decision that handed the Chiefs their second straight defeat, which was compounded by a subsequent loss to Mapua University.
But after those back-to-back setbacks, the reigning champions have bounced back in style, dominating their next four games to clinch the top spot in Group B with a 9-4 record.
The Chiefs are gunning to replicate that winning formula in their rematch with the Stags, this time with a Final Four ticket on the line.
Meanwhile, the ALTAs are gunning to bring their school back to the Final Four after falling short last season.
Perpetual has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence this season, losing its first two games before winning 10 of the next 11 to claim the top spot in Group A with a 10-3 record behind a rookie-laden crew.
Surprisingly, no player from Perpetual cracked the top 10 scorers list, with Jester Bornel ranking 17th and John Castil and Marc Tangon placing 20th and 21st, respectively. But the ALTAs make up for it in other departments, emerging as the best blocking and serving team by collecting 163 blocks and 54 aces throughout the preliminary.
Perpetual, the former four-time champion before Arellano took the crown last year, is seeking to oust the Letran Knights, who made the finals last year but bowed to the Chiefs.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
