Historic sweep, triple kill – almost

Altas bag two titles, forced to Game 3 in women’s duel

MANILA, Philippines — University of Perpetual Help scored a twin kill in the NCAA Season 94 volleyball hostilities,  completing immaculate title romps in the men’s and juniors’ division, but missed securing the third jewel yet as its women’s squad was forced to a deciding Game 3 by finals rival St. Benilde last night at Filoil Flying V Center.

The rampaging Altas bucked a slow start before posting a 23-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 trouncing of St. Benilde to repeat as champs via a sweep of the series and the entire 11-game campaign while the Junior Altas put the finishing touches to a perfect season with a five-peat-clinching 25-19, 30-28, 25-17 dismantling of Letran.

However, defending champion Arellano spoiled Perpetual’s grand plans for a triple crown as it edged the Lady Altas in a five-set thriller, 23-25, 25-8, 25-18, 22-25, 15-12, to forge a winner-take-all for the tiara on Tuesday.

While the Lady Altas still have to make one more attempt at the diadem, the Altas and Junior Altas can already celebrate their respective triumphs.

Joebert Almodiel showed his MVP form, banging in the biggest hits at endgame to seal the deal in a 21-point effort in the clincher.

“The players received medals and trophies but I told them that’s only trophies for individual awards but what’s important is the team, the championship,” said UPHSD coach Sammy Acaylar, whose wards collected their 12th men’s diadem overall, moving two shy of the league-high 14 of Letran.  

The Altas faced a stern test against the Blazers – they dropped the first set then faced a near-monumental collapse in the fourth after leading by 11 points.

But sophomore Almodiel showed why he was the top individual player for the second straight season as he bailed the team out of trouble with his clutch hits, putting them at championship point and scoring the clincher after a save by the Blazers.