San Beda University finally muscled its way into the NCAA Season 97 women's volleyball tournament win column after dispatching Emilio Aguinaldo College, 17-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-23 on Sunday.
San Beda, which fell short of securing a victory in its first four assignments, improved to 1-4 while EAC dropped to 0-5 to remain as the only winless team in the competition.
Trisha Paras and Maxinne Joyce Tayag connived for San Beda, pouring in 15 and 14 points each while Marianne Louise Tayag chipped in eight markers to steer San Beda.
The Lady Red Spikers had a slow start as the Lady Generals took the opening set with usual suspects Krizzia Reyes and Cathrine Almazan piloting their offense, 25-17.
But San Beda came to life in the next set, overcoming a 20-23 deficit in the second frame after a furious 4-1 spurt to tie it at 24 off a Trisha Paras conversion. Paras again soared for the set point before Almazan went wide on her hit, 27-25, as San Beda leveled the game.
The wards of head coach Nemesio Gavino had a better start in the third, racing to a quick 5-0 lead before EAC got its rhythm back to regain the lead, 18-17.
Another error from EAC proved costly as San Beda closed out the set, 25-23.
The lead went back and forth to San Beda in the fourth set until a Jeanne Kristine Porto net touch violation gave the Lady Red Spikers a much-needed 24-22 cushion.
Almazan saved one match point through her drop ball but Paras closed out the game with a drop of her own, giving San Beda its breakthrough win, 25-23.
Despite the loss, Almazan stil collected a season-high 28 points while Reyes registered 21 markers to go along with seven excellent receptions.
San Beda is up for a tough task as it takes on streaking Mapua University on Friday while EAC takes on Lyceum of the Philippines University on Wednesday.
—JMB, GMA News
