MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots pulled off a 26-24, 25-19, 25-23 beating of the Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners for a sweep of the 19th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) men’s volleyball tournament elimination round.
The Patriots’ five-game sweep at the Mariners’ own home ground – the PMMS gymnasium in Las Piñas – gave them the top seeding in the knockout semifinal stage, which takes place on Jan. 10 in this spikefest supported by Mikasa and Molten Balls, and ANI AgriNurture Inc.
The Patriots will clash with fourth placer Olivarez College for a chance to return to the finals.
The PMMS Mariners, who took the No. 2 semis slot, will face the Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder, who finished the eliminations with a 3-2 slate and earned the third seeding in the semis after prevailing over the Olivarez College Sea Lions, 15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-14.
Earlier, last year’s finalist La Salle-Dasmariñas Lady Patriots, behind big plays from Giselle Bembo, turned back the PATTS College of Aeronautics Lady Sea Horses, 25-16, 25-23, 25-20.
But it was the RTU Lady Thunder, who share the same 3-1 record with the Lady Patriots and the Philippine School of Business Administration Lady Jaguars, who earned the no. 1 seeding on account of a better tiebreak record.