MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Perpetual Help turned back a hard fighting San Sebastian, 25-20, 20-25, 25-17, 25-18, to complete a three-game sweep of the semifinal round in the juniors’ division of the NCAA volleyball tournament at the Letran gym recently.
The power-hitting John Erickson Francisco unloaded 18 hits while Michael Bagalay added 13 points for the Junior Altas, who extended their unbeaten run to 10 games dating back from the elimination round.
PJ Rojas led the Staglets with 26 hits but the loss didn’t prevent his team from clinching the last berth in the best-of-three championship series starting on Sunday after finishing the semis with a 2-1 (win-loss) record.
The semifinals in the women’s division, meanwhile, was re-started after the league forfeited all the games that April Ann Sartin and Ronnery dela Cruz of Perpetual Help and Arianne Yap and Janel Lim of St. Benilde had played for eligibility violations.
Emilio Aguinaldo and San Beda took their spots instead but the two are expected to have their hands full against powerhouse teams in San Sebastian and Letran in the semis beginning Monday at the EAC Gym.
It marked the first time the Lady Generals and the Lionesses are making the semis.