Colegio de San Juan de Letran lived to fight another day as Dave Lardizabal fueled a 17-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-23 win against top-seeded University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the NCAA Season 101 men's volleyball quarterfinals on Sunday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
The sophomore star detonated for a game-high 26 points anchored by 21 attacks, three aces, and two blocks as the fourth-ranked Knights forced a knockout game on Wednesday to keep their campaign alive.
Letran roared back after dropping the opening frame, with Vince Himzon and Wayne Araño combining to shut down John Castil as the Knights closed out Set 3 convincingly, 25–15, and move a set away from the huge upset.
The ALTAs, however, were unfazed as they took a slim 18-17 cushion in Set 4. Letran then made a big swing when Bembem Bautista completed a combination play to give the Knights a 21-19 cushion.
Two consecutive errors from Bautista and Christer Ambrocio allowed Perpetual to tie things up at 21-all. But Bautista atoned for the mishap with another combination kill, giving his team a one-point advantage.
Perpetual forced another deadlock when Castil unleashed a hit from the opposite side, tying the score at 23-all. But Lardizabal sparked the breakaway, attacking from the middle to clinch the match point before completing a running spike that finished it off for the Knights.
Bautista and Himzon each chipped in 13 points while Felix bermido chipped in seven markers to help the four-set romp.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
