Howard Mojica/ Contributed Photo
Emilio Aguinaldo College continued to be a thorn in Perpetual Help’s side this NCAA Season 91 men’s volleyball tournament.
Beating the Altas for the third time this season, the Generals moved one win away from repeating as men’s volleyball champions after it took Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals series in four sets, 25-22, 14-25, 25-14, 25-16 Tuesday at San Juan Arena.
Howard Mojica led EAC with 22 points, 17 from kills and four from blocks, as well as the match-clinching
spike down the line to inch closer to back-to-back titles.
Kerth Melliza also got 11 of his 12 markers from hits, while Hariel Doguna also had 12.
“Yung nangyari ngayon, sukli sa lahat ng paghihirap namin,” said Generals coach Rod Palmero.
It was also a sweet victory for EAC, which finally scored its first win against the powerhouse Perpetual in their three Finals meetings.
“Mataas ang respeto ko sa Perpetual dahil dalawang taon din namin silang nakalaban. Kahit anong mangyari, di yan bibitaw,” Palmero said.
The Generals bucked a poor showing in the second set that allowed the Altas to knot the match one set apiece, before finding their groove once again and dominating the next two sets.
Their dominance was on full display in the fourth set, when Mojica and Melliza conspired to string five straight points to pull away, 20-12, for good.
“Alam nila na kayang kaya nila yung kalaban kaya kino-control ko din. Pinapasukan din kasi nila ng gigil at kumpyansa kaya hinayaan ko na ma-realize nila yung pagkakamali nila para makabawi sila,” Palmero said of his wards.
Rey Taneo Jr. was the lone Perpetual stud to notch double digits with 10 points, while John Patrick Ramos only had seven in the defeat.
Game 2 is on Friday, still at the San Juan Arena.