Ateneo and National University overcame a gritty challenge from their respective rivals to stay unbeaten while St. Benilde pulled off an upset at the start of the quarterfinals of the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference Monday at Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Blue Eagles outlasted the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 25-21, 25-19, 22-25, 25-17, while the Bulldogs survived two extended sets to carve out a 26-24, 25-19, 26-24 triumph over the University of the Philippines Maroons.
“We won because we were resilient enough,” said Ateneo coach Oliver Almadro.
The Eagles and the Bulldogs, the group topnotchers in the elimination round, shared top spot with 4-0 slates.
St. Benilde stunned NCAA champion Emilio Aguinaldo College, 25-22, 21-25, 16-25, 25-22, 15-13, and improved to 1-3.
EMILIO Aguinaldo’s Israel Encina foils St. Benilde’s Johnvic de Guzman in yesterday’s match at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Johnvic de Guzman erupted for 25 points and Racmade Etrone and Isaah Arda also teamed up for 26 points to lift the Blazers from a 1-2 set deficit.
The Blazers also overcame the scoring explosion of NCAA MVP Howard Mojica, who finished with a season-high 35 points.
Marck Espejo fired 17 of his 20 points off attacks to power the Eagles, while Ysay Marasigan posted 12 kills, three blocks and a pair of aces in a 17-point outing.
Bryan Bagunas and Madzlan Gampong delivered 12 points each, most of them in the third set, as the Bulldogs subdued the rallying Maroons.
“Our defense helped us a lot in this game,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin.
The Generals fell to fourth place with a 2-2 record, while the Maroons slipped to 1-3.