GETTING a huge lift from MVP Howard Mojico, Emilio Aguinaldo College ended its long wait for an NCAA title yesterday with a 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20 victory over St. Benilde in the men’s volleyball finals at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Mojico unloaded 28 points as the Generals completed their rise from 0-1 down in the title series to capture a first crown in any sport since 2009, when they joined the league.
The victory boosted the Generals’ bid to gain regular membership in the country’s oldest collegiate association. Arellano was the last school to gain regular membership last year.
The victory was a redemption of sorts for EAC whose senior basketball team got embroiled in an ugly free-for-all against Mapua in the first semester last year that resulted in ejection of players and forfeiture of several games.
“Our hard work finally paid off,” said EAC coach Rod Palmero, whose charges lost to the Perpetual Help Altas in last year’s finals.
Mojico, also the Finals MVP, fired 33 points as EAC rallied to a pulsating 25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-13 victory.
After trading hits with Mojico in Game 1, St. Benilde’s Johnvic de Guzman faded in the series, scoring just 20 in the title decider. His 26 hits in Game 1 proved instrumental in the 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24 win.