RELENTLESS in the sudden-death frame, Instituto Estetico Manila outlasted Systema Tooth and Gum Care in a grueling five-setter, 25-21, 24-26, 25-22, 14-25, 15-12, yesterday to capture the first men’s championship in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 at Filoil Flying V Arena.
Most Valuable Player Jeffrey Jimenez, Karl dela Calzada, Rudy Gatdula and Jason Canlas fired the crucial hits as the IEM Volley Masters, who came to life after a listless fourth set, dominated the decider to claim Game 3 of the best-of-three title series.
“It feels good to help write history,” said IEM coach Ernesto Balubar after his squad emerged as the inaugural men’s winner of the premier volleyball league that, for the past decade, had showcased women’s action only.
Jimenez unloaded all but one of his 16 points on attacks as the Volley Masters surged ahead in the fifth set, 10-5, before nipping the Active Smashers’ late rally.
Earlier, Far Eastern University copped third-place honors by tripping Rizal Technological University with a 25-22, 20-25, 16-25, 28-26 decision.
Greg Dolor pumped in 21 points and Joel Cayaban nearly matched it with 20 to power the Tamaraws.
Gatdula, who chipped in 10 points, sewed up the thriller with a cross-court attack off Systema standouts Chris Macasaet and Rocky Honrade.
Dela Calzada also fueled the Volley Masters’ comeback from a forgettable fourth-set, 14-25, to finish with 11 spikes and three blocks.
“I’m very happy and very excited since this is our first time,” said Jimenez after the Volley Masters wrapped up the series, rising from a heartbreaking Game 1 loss where they blew a two-set lead against the Active Smashers, 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 16-14.
Macasaet had a game-high 25 points, but couldn’t lead the Active Smashers back to their dominant fourth-set form as three early miscues in the decider pushed them down to 1-5.