Colegio de San Juan de Letran believed and backed it up on the court.
The Knights completed a quarterfinal upset against top-seeded University of Perpetual Help System DALTA after eking out a 27-29, 25-11, 25-23, 25-18 win in their do-or-die clash on Wednesday at the Strike Gymnasium Center in Bacoor, Cavite.
Letran picked up where it left from its 17-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-23 win last Sunday in the quarterfinal opener, sending the ALTAs packing and clinching its third straight Final Four appearance.
The victory also arranged a familiar semifinals duel with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, whom Letran defeated twice in the Season 100 Final Four on its way to the championship round.
Four Knights breached double-digit scoring with Vince Himzon leading the show with 19 points anchored on 16 attacks, two blocks, and one ace while Bembem Bautista and Dave Lardizabal chipped in 16 and 15 markers to carry Letran back to the Top 4.
Christer Ambrocio chimed in with 12 points laced with six digs and 10 receptions as Wayne Arano orchestrated the offense with 32 excellent sets.
Perpetual, who only sustained three losses in the preliminaries, got off to a good start when setter Klint Mateo helped the ALTAs erase a 26-27 deficit and unleash a 3-0 run to snatch the opening set.
But the Knights took Set 2 in a convincing fashion before both teams figured in a tight affair in the third frame with Ambrocio flying from the left wing to force a 21-all deadlock. Letran then closed it out with three straight points to inch closer to the victory.
A Himzon block on Dexter Arrozado sent Letran to a blazing 6-1 start to open the fourth frame before Felix Bermido hit one from the opposite side to send the Knights to a 17-12 cushion.
Bautista completed a combination play for a 22-16 edge before he and Bermido took turns delivering the last two points that ultimately took the fight out of Perpetual.
Jester Bornel paced Perpetual with 14 points while Arrozado and John Castil each poured in nine markers, but those were not enough as Perpetual missed the Final Four for the second straight season.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
