Fiery Bulldogs enter q’finals

ARELLANO U’s Sanny Sarino unleashes a powerful spike against St. Benilde’s Isaah Arda (4) as Blazer Francis Basilan tries to provide help during their Spikers’ Turf clash at The Arena.

National University sustained its fiery form by smashing National College of Business and Arts, 25-16, 25-14, 25-23, yesterday to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Collegiate Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Bulldogs proved too sharp for the Wildcats, combining their power game with superb net and floor defense on their way to a third straight victory.

Francis Saura fired 11 hits, including four on blocks, Bryan Bagunas and Kim Malabunga each finished with 10 points for the Bulldogs who joined the idle Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the next round.

Not to be outdone, St. Benilde leaned on its net defense to turn back Arellano U, 25-17, 20-25, 25-18, 25-18, and close in on a quarterfinal berth in Group B.

The Blazers collected 19 points off blocks with guest player Francis Basilan and Ron Jordan combining for nine  as they neutralized the Chiefs’ attacking game in hacking out  their second win in three games in an hour and 38 minutes.

The win allowed the Blazers to tie UP for second while eliminating the Chiefs from contention in the last eight.

The Chiefs couldn’t sustain their strong start with the Blazers putting emphasis on defense in the last three sets.

Blazers captain Johnvic De Guzman led from the front with 20 points while Racmade Etrone added 12 hits and Jordan and Basilan ended up with 10 and nine points, respectively.

The Chiefs got 14 points from Lawrence del Espiritu.

Although they fell to 2-1, the Wildcats remain in the hunt for a spot in the quarterfinal berth.
The Bulldogs’ awesome display of firepower saw them produce 32 points off hits while  getting 10 blocks and nine aces in a stellar all around outing in 68 minutes.