NATIONAL University (NU) cashed in on an erratic University of Santo Tomas (UST) for a 25-19, 25-21, 25-19 victory that moved the Bulldogs a victory shy of sweeping the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge crown at the Paco Arena Sunday.
Nico Almendras unleashed a 13-point game he spiked with 14 excellent receptions while Michaelo Buddin and Kennry Malinis backed him up with 11 points apiece as NU pounced on every UST miscue and pound out the one-sided win that edged the Bulldogs closer to a follow-up to their stirring victory in the recent Spikers’ Turf.
“The boys were superb today especially in the endgame where they were excellent with their blocks and in offense,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin after his wards dispatched the Tiger Spikers in one hour and 17 minutes in the opener of their best-of-three title series.
The España-based squad trailed by a point point in the third set, but the fancied NU quartet of Almendras, Malinis, Buddin and Obed Mukaba put the Bulldogs beyond reach, 24-17.
Josh Ybañez came up with a hit and Jay Rack Dela Noche’s solid block on Buddin stalled the Bulldogs’ charge but the Tiger Spikers yielded the match point on a service error by Ybañez.
UST finished with 27 errors.
Dela Noche and Ybañez paced UST with 10 points apiece while Gboy De Vega chipped in eight markers.
NU shoots for the sweep on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
In the women’s finals, Faith Nisperos pumped in eight of her huge 35-point explosion in the decider as Ateneo carved out a 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 24-26, 18-16 decision over Adamson University to also move a step closer to clinching the crown.
The 22-year-old Nisperos’ sustained assault put the Lady Eagles at match point at 14-9 but the Lady Falcons fought back behind Trisha Tubu and Rizza Cruz and took the next five points to extend the match before the two teams traded hits for a 16-all count.
AC Miner, however, hammered out a quick kill and Lyann de Guzman came through with an ace to finish off the San Marcelino-based school.
“We’re not thinking about the championship right away, we’re thinking of the process. I know I have a new team, most of them ngayon lang nag-start. It’s all about the process,” said Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro, whose wards, however, yielded 40 errors.
Nisperos thus matched her career-best she made against College of St. Benilde during the 2019 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference battle for third.
The Blue Eagles earlier failed to clinch it in the fourth set after blowing a 24-22 lead on a Vanie Gandler crosscourt attack as Kate Santiago tallied three straight points for the Lady Falcons before Lorene Toring hit an ace to force extension.
Gandler also stepped up to fire 20 points on 14 attacks, four aces and two blocks to go and finished with 11 excellent digs while Miner added 18 points.
Tubu led Adamson with 17 points while Cruz chipped in 16 points, she laced with five blocks.
The Blue Eagles try to wrap it all up on Wednesday starting at 5 p.m.