Altas roll to win record 51st straight win

MANILA, Philippines – There are 51 reasons for Perpetual Help to celebrate. Count its straight set victory over a hapless San Sebastian as one.

Showing they are never stopping anytime, the Altas blitzed their way to a 25-21, 25-17, 25-16 win over the Stags Friday to continue the rampage in  the 90th NCAA men's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Rey Taneo and Bonjomar Castel served as the ammos and shield by combining for 14 kills and nine blocks and finishing with 12 and 11 hits, respectively, to power the Las Pinas-based school to a league record 51 straight wins spanning five seasons.

The win also catapulted Perpetual Help, seeking a fifth straight championship, to a share of the lead with idle Emilio Aguinaldo College (3-0) to a share of it by posting the former's fourth win of the year.

"It's nice to have that streak," said Perpetual Help coach Sammy Acaylar in Filipino. "But we don't want to pressure ourselves by thinking of it that much. We're just here to win the championship regardless if it's a sweep or not."

Richard Tolentino led San Sebastian with 15 hits but he couldn't get help as the Roger Gorayeb-mentored Stags fell to their first defeat of the season after hurdling Lyceum and San Beda in its first two assignments.

In women's action, San Sebastian downed reigning three-peat titlist Perpetual Help, 25-17, 25-17, 26-24, to zoom to the top alongside Arellano University on identical 3-0 (win-loss) records.

Jolina Labiano and Nikka Marielle Dalisay took charge when Shakey's V-League veteran and team captain Gretchel Soltones struggled, firing 13 and 11, respectively.

Soltones was held to just seven hits as she contented herself to playing decoy and allowed the crisp-spiking Labiano and Dalisay to shine.

The Lady Altas fell to a 2-1 slate.

College of St. Benilde likewise remained unscathed after it smothered Jose Rizal, 25-17, 25-19, 25-13, to join Arellano U and San Sebastian at the helm.

In the only other result of the day, St. Benilde trounced Jose Rizal, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23, to improve to 2-1 in men's play.