Red-hot San Sebastian College-Recoletos shrugged off a slow start, surviving yet another five-setter with a 24-26, 26-28, 25-20, 25-20, 17-15 victory over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in NCAA Season 97 on Sunday.
San Sebastian hiked its standing to 4-1 behind a three-game winning streak to gain share of second spot with Arellano University while Perpetual dropped to 2-3.
With the two teams each sporting two sets, San Sebastian proved dominant in the fifth with Reyann Cañete helping them set up a 10-7 lead. But Mary Rhose Dapol answered with two attacks in a row to tie it at 10.
A seesaw match saw both teams tied again at 15 before Kat Santos went through two blockers for the match point as an attack error from Hannah Suico capped off another five-set victory for San Sebastian.
Cañete carved out another stellar performance, finishing with 25 points anchored on 19 attacks, five aces, and a block while Santos finished with 18 points to help the cause. KJ Dionisio, Amaka Tan, and Bianca Ordona, meanwhile, chipped in 10 markers each.
The Lady Altas took advantage of error-plagued San Sebatian, who wasted a 19-14 opening set lead as Perpetual tied the game at 23. Razel Aldea then returned a misreceived ball, 24-23, before an attack error from Kath Santos gave Perpetual the first set, 26-24.
Similar to what happened in the previous frame, San Sebastian waxed hot early, building a much-needed 14-10 cushion with Cañete, Santos, and Tina Marasigan leading the way.
But Perpetual showed no signs of fatigue, knotting the match again at 20-apiece off a double touch violation on Cañete before Suico notch back-to-back kills for a 24-all affair.
San Sebastian had two chances to level the game, reaching the set point twice but two consecutive denials on Marasigan sent Perpetual to two sets ahead, 28-26.
Perpetual looked like it could sweep San Sebastian, staging a late run in the third set but the Lady Stags took advantage of undermanned Perpetual, 25-20, after Aldea went down with an ankle sprain early on.
Dapol led Perpetual with her 18 points while Aldea chimed in with 14 of her own.
San Sebastian then forced a decider with head coach Roger Gorayeb making adjustments in the rotation as they won the fourth set, 25-20.
With the tournament reaching the halfway mark, San Sebastian will look to book another win on Friday against the still undefeated College of Saint Benilde. Perpetual, meanwhile, will tangle with Jose Rizal University on Wednesday.
—JMB, GMA News
