Lady Altas barge into ‘NC’ finals

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion University of Perpetual Help System Dalta wore down Arellano, 25-22, 26-28, 25-16, 25-23, to advance to the finals of the 88th NCAA women’s volleyball at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City last Monday.

Reigning MVP Sandra delos Santos and Honey Royce Tubino fired 18 hits apiece while April Sartin added 17 points and later bagged the best player of the game honors as the Lady Altas bounced back from a heart-breaking second set setback to sweep the next two, including the tightly-fought fourth set.

Perpetual thus moved into the finals with a 2-0 card while Arellano dropped to 1-1 in a tie with San Sebastian. Emilio Aguinaldo College is out with a 0-2 slate.

SSC and Arellano dispute the other finals berth tomorrow.

The best-of-three finals is set Saturday.

The Lady Altas go for a sweep against the Lady Generals in a non bearing match to be aired live at 6 p.m. on AKTV 13.

In men’s play, unbeaten Perpetual Help repulsed Emilio Aguinaldo, 26-24, 25-22, 25-18, to firm up its three-peat bid.

Edmar Sanchez unleashed 14 hits while Ralph Savellano unloaded 11 kills as the Altas survived two tough sets to remain undefeated in 30 games stretching three seasons.

Libero Sandy Montero also came through with 18 digs for Perpetual, which moved closer to a third straight stint in the best-of-three finals on Feb. 9.

Perpetual, which also beat Lyceum, 25-13 25-12 25-17, last Friday, must hurdle San Beda to get another crack at the crown. The Red Lions bounced back from their 22-25 21-25 20-25 defeat to the EAC Generals with a hard-earned 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 26-24, 17-15 win over winless Lyceum also yesterday.

The Lions drew 50 hits from Lorenzo Capate and Gilbert Ablan.

In juniors action, Perpetual Help bucked a sluggish start as it turned back Letran, 20-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-15, to likewise remain unbeaten in two matches in the semis.

The Junior Altas, who rallied from two sets down to pull the rug from under Emilio Aguinaldo, 20-25 20-25 25-20 25-20 15-10, faces the San Sebastian Staglets on Thursday for a spot in the championship round.

Rebounding from that heartbreaking five-set defeat to Perpetual, EAC downed San Sebastian, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20l 25-18, to keep its title hopes alive.

The Brigadiers and the Stags, who trounced the Squires, 23-25 25-13 25-17 25-16 in the semis’ opener, forged a two-way tie at second behind the Juniors Altas.