On January 25, 2012, Ninoy Aquino Stadium stood witness to what may go down as NCAA Season 87’s most ferocious fight for glory. The San Beda Red Spikers overpowered the Arellano University Chiefs in four sets of 25-19, 27-25, 13-25 and 28-26, proving that all it takes is a whole lot of heart to overcome adversity.
As expected, set one opened with a bang. Opposite Hitter Gilbert Ablan’s defensive skills were immediately put to the test as he dug a hard spike, which Outsider Hitter Lorenzo Capate converted into an easy point. From thereon, the rallies were quick-paced and the scores were kept close. It was only until Lorca delivered an ace serve to Arellano’s libero that the momentum shifted in San Beda’s favor for a score of 13-11. Trying to keep the momentum going, Lorca efficiently drew the blockers away for Ablan to pound the ball to the floor. Outside Hitter Mhelvic Biscocho, sensing Arellano’s itch for a comeback, twisted and buried the ball down the line to keep them at 17-15. Approaching as if he were going to hit the ball on the second touch, Lorca ingeniously faked Arellano’s blockers for Capate, giving the latter ample opportunity to swing hard. Capate then put an end to the first set by hitting an overpass with force.
Dynamic play was rampant as both Ablan and Capate pushed through their blockers at the very start of set two, giving San Beda the lead. Arellano University standout Outside Hitter, Chris Salvador, wanting to keep pace, swung hard but to no avail. Lorca put up an impenetrable wall and blocked him for a score of 6-5. For reasons unbeknownst to the audience, Arellano’s coach then chose to switch his starting setter, John Munoz, for Rover Quiminales. This kept things interesting as Quiminales proved himself worthy of the substitution. Capate stepped up and decided to tip the ball over a triple block to earn his team the score of 9-8. The ferocity ensued throughout the set and AU eventually caught up to San Beda with a score of 20-22. It was only because of Middle Hitter Carlo Rodriguez’s three consecutive kills that San Beda clinched the lead at 26-25. The set ended with Biscocho blocking AU’s Salvador.
Despite Middle Hitter Jay-R Loria’s fantastic swing at a shooter backset to garner an early lead for San Beda, AU hung on tenaciously. It seemed that AU finally gathered its wits together with the setter substitution in set two. Showing their strength in offensive tempo variation, they managed to win set three with a twelve point lead.
Fresh from a pep talk from Coach Christian John Cuevas, the Red Spikers were rejuvenated and ready to re-enter the fray. After hitting the ball exaggeratedly way out of bounds, AU’s Middle Hitter Ronie Aranjuez got hit in the face by a block from Capate, much to the San Beda crowd’s delight. Arellano, though, eventually got up to a lead of 3-7. It was only after Ablan’s two consecutive kills and Biscocho’s deciding spike that San Beda managed to overturn the lead at 15-14. Loria, playing exceedingly well by contributing blocks all throughout the game, earned a point for his team by stuffing AU Outside Hitter John Carlo Lozada for a score of 19-16. He later on tooled the AU blockers to assure the lead at 27-26. Who could have expected that the game would end with a net violation on AU’s part?
Overall, the San Beda Red Spikers were able to play their game, and play it well. They managed to meet their objectives and neutralize AU. They reduced Lozada’s kill count to nine, thereby forcing AU to rely on Salvador, who earned an overall 25 points.
Capate led the Bedan team with 19 kills, followed by Ablan with 13 kills. Both Loria and Rodriguez chipped in 11 markers. Pocholo Apostol, San Beda’s Libero, took the brunt of receptions and enabled the Red Spikers to capitalize for the win.
The Red Spikers are now preparing for their showdown against the University of Perpetual Help Altas which will be held on January 27, 2012 (Friday) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium at 9AM.
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