San Beda University on Friday made history, snapping University of Perpetual Help System DALTA’s 32-game winning streak, 17-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-23, 15-11 in Game Two of their best-of-three NCAA men's volleyball finals series.
With the comeback win, San Beda dragged the three-peat seeking ALTAs to a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday.
The last time Perpetual tasted defeat was back in Season 93, when it fell to Arellano University in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series, which it eventually won after ruling the next two games.
Recently-crowned MVP Louie Ramirez took care of business early, rallying his side from a five-point deficit in Set 2 as they tied things up at 20-all. Ramirez then fired one from the back to give Perpetual the set point, 24-23.
San Beda was able to steal the set point before Ramirez heated up once again from the pipe for the set, 27-25.
San Beda’s Kenrod Umali went for a kill to bring them up at 22-20, en route to a 25-22 win to extend the match.
Ramirez subbed out late in the third due to cramps and was missing for most of the fourth, but returned to the court after Kobe Tabuga knotted it at 20-all. Still, San Beda secured Set 4 with a 25-24 triumph to drag the defending champions to a fifth set.
Rookie Ralph Cabalsa sent San Beda to a much-needed 6-2 cushion in Set 5 before his final attack sealed it off for the Mendiola crew.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
