It was a sibling act for Jiwen and Jan Will Sinuto as the brothers connived to help Arellano University repel Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21, in the NCAA Season 100 men's volleyball tournament on Saturday.
The younger Jiwen took charge with a team-high 15 points alongside six digs while the older Jan Will sparked off the bench and posted 13 markers laced with 14 receptions as the Chiefs improved to 3-3.
The Knights, meanwhile, could not build on their first-set victory to snap their two-game winning streak and fall to 2-4.
Arellano, which was coming off a four-set loss to Mapua University a week ago, didn't falter even after losing the opening frame to a Letran camp that was fresh off back-to-back victories against LPU and EAC.
The Chiefs slowly regrouped with head coach Bryan Vitug deciding to sub in the 24-year-old Jan Will as well as middle blocker Jake Pangilinan starting in the second set, which proved to be the game changer.
The third-year outside hitter sent them to a 4-3 start in fourth set before the 22-year-old Jiwen hit back-to-back opposite attacks for a slim 8-7 cushion.
Pangilinan then unleashed two straight points, including a monster block on Vince Himzon, that made it an 18-14 lead for the Chiefs before a quick kill from him had them cruising to a 19-15 advantage.
But Letran responded with a 3-0 rampage, before Arellano's middle blocker Anfernee Curamen unloaded a quick attack to kill the momentum for Letran, 20-18.
Jan Will caught the line on his open hammer before Letran's two consecutive errors saw Arellano securing the match point at 24-21. To put the icing on the cake was Pangilinan as the 6-foot middle-blocker denied Christer Ambrocio to deliver the victory.
The Sinutos got ample help from their teammates with Curamen putting together 12 points anchored on eight attacks and four blocks while Pangilinan and Carl Berdal each posted 11 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
