Perpetual Help Altas down reigning titlist EAC Generals to force a winner-take-all game 3. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of Perpetual Help humbled defending champions Emilio Aguinaldo College, 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19, Friday at San Juan Arena to force a third and final match in the NCAA Season 78 men’s volleyball finals.
Substitute Allan Sala-an banged in the winner for the Altas with a crosscourt kill sending the Perpetual crowd to a frenzy.
Altas head coach Sammy Acaylar said his team’s first order of business was stopping the MVP Howard Mojica and his relentless offense.
“When we had our viewing, we looked at his every rotation, looked at each of his set play and where his strikes landed,” Acaylar said. “Our blockers followed him and the backrow players waited.”
“We really needed to concentrate on him because you all know how he scores.”
Rey Taneo Jr., who had a team-high 16 points, booked the Altas’ 24-18 match point with a nifty off-the-block attack but the Generals got a bit of reprieve when an ill-fated possession from the guys in white ended in an error.
Ranidean Abcede added 14 points to the Altas’ offense.
Acaylar’s defensive scheme on Mojica looked to work as they limited him to 22 points.
Hariel Doguna and Israel Dencina also had 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Altas.