Jeff Marapoc and Kobe Tabuga presided over as University of Perpetual Help System DALTA gutted out a 25-22, 31-29, 25-23 win over San Beda University in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament on Saturday at the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Gym.
Third-year Marapoc shone on both ends with 15 points together with 15 receptions and six digs while the opposite spiker Tabuga posted 16 markers as the ALTAs kicked off their five-peat bid on a strong note.
"Of course we're happy and we're very focused on today's game. We have two objectives for today's game, number one is of course to win and number two is to overcome 'yung fear namin," new Perpetual coach Macky Cariño told GMA News Online.
"Kasi nga new head coach na ako so isa sa kinakatakutan namin is adjustment pero so far maganda naman at madali maka-pick up ang team kasi I've been here matagal na."
Perpetual needed to dig deep in the tight second set after San Beda managed to tie things up at 29-all. But Tabuga soared from the opposite side for the match point before Marapoc took advantage of an overpass to steer the ALTAs to a 2-0 set lead.
San Beda tried again to catch up with Perpetual with Axel Van Book giving the Red Spikers a 16-15 lead, but the Las Piñas crew showed no letups with Marapos knotting it up again at 21-all.
A KC Andrade block on Book had Perpetual cruising to a slim 23-22 lead before Marapoc scored on the open to deliver the match point at 24-23. Hezron Rai Manaloto then sealed it on a swipe from the right wing as Perpetual sent a statement to start its title defense.
Book paced San Beda with 16 points laced with four digs and five receptions while Anrie Bakil and Mark Montemayor chipped in 12 and 10 markers apiece.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
