University of Perpetual Help System DALTA dethroned back-to-back defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College, 21-10, 15-21, 15-13, to claim the NCAA Season 98 men's beach volleyball title on Saturday in Subic, Zambales.
The ALTAs were a different beast in the opening set with Louie Ramirez unleashing six monster blocks all on Joshua Ramilo as his teammate Jefferson Marapoc brought the Las Piñas squad to a set point, 20-9.
23-year-old hitter Joshua Pitogo then saved one set point for the Generals with his own denial on Marapoc, but Ramirez finished it off with a one-two play as they eked out a lopsided first set, 21-10.
But the Generals put up a fight in the second set.
They opened the second set with a crucial 8-3 cushion off an ace from Pitogo before a Joshua Ramilo attack error allowed Perpetual to cut its deficit to just one, 11-12. An attack error, though, from the side of the ALTAs sent EAC to the set point, 20-15, as Pitogo put the roof on Ramirez as they leveled the match to one set apiece.
It was a marathon third set with both teams exchanging hammers as Marapoc and Ramilo showed the way for their respective teams. Back-to-back Marapoc hits saw the ALTAs seize a slim 7-5 lead but Pitogo tied things up at seven to get his first point in the ultimate set.
Ramirez returned to his strength, denying Ramilo on his attack for a 13-12 advantage before his strong hit put Perpetual in the championship point. Marapoc then got lucky on his set as it went over the court of the Generals.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
