Exciting action in the V-League Collegiate Challenge yesterday.
Perpetual Help survives Mapua in V-League thriller
UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System Dalta outlasted Mapua in a fourth set thriller, 16-25, 25-18, 25-18, 39-37, to secure the last Final Four berth in the V-League Collegiate Challenge yesterday at the Paco Arena.
The Lady Altas needed 44 minutes to conquer the hard-fighting Lady Cardinals, who saved a number of match points before Shai Omipon and Razel Aldea delivered the clincher.
“Masaya na maganda ‘yung performance nila sa last three sets. Nung first set, hindi ko alam ang nangyari. Maganda ‘yung adjustment in-game sinunod naman nila, pati adjustments mismo sa sarili nila,” said coach Sandy Rieta after Perpetual joined Far Eastern University, University of the East and College of Saint Benilde in the next phase.
The Lady Blazers downed the previously unbeaten Lady Warriors, 23-25, 25-22, 29-27, 25-18, to also advance to the semifinals.
Omipon finished with 25 points, including three of her 21 kills in the clutch that kept the Lady Altas in front in the extended fourth set. The outside hitter also added two blocks and two aces.
Charmaine Ocado came through with 13 markers, Aldea had six of her 10 points from blocks while Perpetual setter Jhasmine Sapin tossed in 14 excellent sets.
Roxie Dela Cruz paced the Lady Cardinals with 16 points, 11 digs and six receptions but it was not enough to save the team from elimination with a 1-4 slate with one playdate left in the semis.
Benilde, meanwhile, was focused in ending UE’s five-match winning run.
Gayle Pascual unloaded a 23-point game, including clutch hits in the third, while Jade Gentapa backed her up with 20 points as the Lady Blazers rebounded from a tough four-set loss to the streaking Lady Tamaraws last Friday to hike their record to 4-1.
“We prepared more on the mental side. Kundisyon naman yung katawan nila eh, so ‘yung mindset talaga,” said Benilde assistant coach Jay Chua.
The Lady Blazers also bucked another explosion from Casiey Dongallo, who finished with 32 points that went along with eight digs. Khy Cepeda added 15 points, including two blocks, for the Lady Warriors.
