Generals spoil Altas sweep bid

MANILA, Philippines – Emilio Aguinaldo College foiled Perpetual Help’s sweep bids in both the men’s and high school divisions in the 91st NCAA volleyball tournament with a pair of big wins yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

Drawing strength from reigning MVP Howard Mojica’s strong play, the Generals downed the Altas, 25-20, 25-22, 25-17, to spoil the latter’s attempt at sweeping the elimination round and barging straight to the finals.

By doing so, EAC also supplanted Perpetual Help, the former champion before the former reigned supreme, at No. 1 with an 8-1 (win-loss) record while sending the latter down to No. 2 with a 7-1 slate.

Most importantly, the Generals clinched a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.

“The boys just wanted to win bad,” said EAC coach Rodrigo Palmero in Filipino.

The power-hitting Mojica uncorked a match-high 20 hits, 15 of them on attack and the other five on service aces off his powerful jump serves.

EAC also dealt defending juniors’ titlist Perpetual Help its first defeat in six outings with a pulse-pounding 25-27, 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 15-7 win.

Ralph Joshua Pitogo punched in 22 hits while skipper Cee-Jay Hicap and Ederson Rebusora fired 18 and 12 points, respectively, to likewise seal the Brigadiers the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four with a 6-1 mark.

The Junior Altas skidded to 5-1.

In women’s play, Perpetual Help secured its place in the semifinals with a 25-20, 25-20, 25-23 pounding of EAC.

The Lady Altas, who were paced by Ma. Lourdes Clemente’s 16 and Jamela Suyat’s 15 points, improved to 6-2 to join the San Sebastian Lady Stags (8-0), the Arellano U Lady Chiefs (7-1) and the St. Benilde Blazers (6-1) in the semis.