Games Sunday:
(Paco Arena)
10 a.m. — FEU vs La Salle (m)
12 p.m. — Ateneo vs EAC (m)
2 p.m. — Mapua vs Lyceum (w)
4 p.m. — SSC-R vs Enderun (w)
University of Perpetual Help System DALTA turned to Jeff Marapoc’s crisp hitting in a cakewalk, 25-14, 25-17, 25-22, win over San Beda University to stay unbeaten in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge yesterday at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Marapoc hogged the spotlight in the reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association champions’ second straight win in as many games for the solo lead with his 13 points off a 13-of-29 spiking clip.
The open spiker also had nine excellent receptions in his all-around performance for the Altas, who are on a roll despite missing the services of reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Louie Ramirez currently in Japan to train with Japanese club Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler.
Perpetual also got nine points from Kobe Tabuga and combined 11 points from Klint Mateo and KC Andare.
“I’m happy we’re doing great although we’re missing Louie Ramirez. It’s good to see that the team plays as one and is not looking at those who are not here. They are working really hard and solidly,” Altas coach Sammy Acaylar said.
But the former national team mentor felt his wards could’ve done better especially in the third set when the Red Spikers despite fielding mostly off the bench players kept the game close.
“I guess we really have that tendency to relax when we know we’re winning. But I have been training them not to be complacent until the game is secured,” Acaylar added as his squad braces for a tough showdown against University of Santo Tomas next week.
No San Beda player scored in double figures with Kevin Montemayor finishing with nine.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University seized an opening day come-from-behind victory at the expense of favored UST, 26-28, 25-18, 28-26, 25-21, in the curtain-raiser.
Green Spikers captain JM Ronquillo torched the Golden Spikers with 23-kills and four kill blocks to finish with a game-high 27 points while JJ Rodriguez backed him up with 12.
La Salle took advantage of UST’s atrocious 34 errors and reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines Rookie of the Year and MVP Josh Ybanez unusually cold outing.
Ybanez played only in the first two sets and only had seven markers under his name for last year’s runners-up. Rainer Flor and Gboy De Vega led the Golden Spikers with 13 and 10 markers, respectively.
