Mapua University shrugged off a Set 1 hiccup to hack out a 19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23 win against top-seeded De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Game 1 of NCAA Season 101 men’s volleyball finals on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Cardinals now moved on cusp of their first title since 2002.
Sophomore opposite spiker PJ Reyes shone with a team-high 19 points alongside eight digs while Arjay Ramos and Barbie San Andres churned out 18 and 16 markers each in a win that put Mapua one game away from ending a 24-year title drought.
"24 years na [since nu'ng last title] and dumating nga 'yung mga dating players and nanood sila. Nakakatuwa na andiyan sila," Mapua head coach Aying Esteban told GMA News Online.
"Hindi lang kami slow start nu'ng una, very slow. Doon kami nagkaka-problema, medyo mataas 'yung pressure kasi sila Ben ga-graduate pero buti na lang naka-recover sa dulo."
Mapua's Game 1 victory reflects their whole Season 101 journey so far.
The Cardinals finished the preliminaries in third spot with a 7-6 record. They then braved a twice-to-win disadvantage against San Beda in the quarterfinals before dethroning defending champion Arellano University in the Final Four to clinch a finals ticket.
When it mattered the most again, they mounted a similar fighting spirit to stun the top-seeded Benilde to open the best-of-three finals series.
After losing the opening frame, the Cardinals got their acts together in the succeeding sets with Ramos and first-year setter King Mangulabnan taking turns to close out Set 3, 25-21, and bring Mapua one set away from the upset.
Reyes then came up clutch in Set 4 after unleashing back-to-back kills that sent Mapua to a 15-10 lead before Benilde answered with a 7-2 rampage capped by a Dexter Graniada kill from the left wing.
San Andres' two consecutive kills clinched the match point at 24-21, but the Blazing Spikers trimmed the gap to just one when reigning MVP Rocky Motol sparked a quick 2-0 run, forcing Mapua to call for a breather.
That helped the Cardinals to regroup as San Andres took advantage of Benilde’s scrambling net defense to finish off the game in four sets.
Reymark Betco led the charge for Benilde with 26 points and nine digs while Motol chipped in 15 markers and 11 receptions.
—JKC, GMA News
