Published May 18, 2025 8:38pm
Updated May 18, 2025 8:38pm
No five-setter this time around.
Carl Berdal and Anfernee Curamen took the scoring cudgels as Arellano University reasserted its mastery over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 25-16, 28-26, 25-20, in NCAA Season 100 men’s volleyball on Sunday.
Berdal top-scored with 14 points while veteran middle blocker Curamen grabbed seven blocks en route to a 13-point outing as the Chiefs didn’t need five sets to upset the ALTAs this time. Back in their first round meeting, Arellano had to eke out a 25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-13 win in a grueling affair.
With the victory as well, the Chiefs cruised to back-to-back wins to improve to 11-5 while the four-time defending champions ALTAs, meanwhile, put their title defense in peril as they fell to 8-7.
“Pinanood namin talaga sa viewing namin ‘yung mga galaw nila, kahit sinong ipasok sa kanila, ‘yun talaga ‘yung gusto namin mangyari na matalo sila ng straight sets,” Curamen told GMA News Online.
“Crucial lahat ng games ngayon. Gusto naming makakuha ng twice-to-beat.”
Curamen and Berdal were effective all game long with the former unleashing a quick kill and the latter unloading a power hammer as they came out on top of an extended Set 2, 28-26.
They continued their brilliance in the third frame with Curamen completing a running attack play that helped Arellano establish a 10-7 cushion.
But Perpetual displayed its championship poise with John Castil fueling a 8-3 rampage that saw the Las Piñas crew secure a 15-13 lead.
Arellano slowly sliced the gap as back-to-back errors from Perpetual tied things up at 18-all before AC Guinto punished them with two consecutive aces that swung the lead back to Arellano, 20-18.
Berdal put together the finishing kick with two attacks in a row before two consecutive errors from Perpetual sealed it for the streaking Arellano.
Kobe Tabuga paced Perpetual with 15 points and eight digs while Marapoc and Castil chipped in 13 and 11 markers apiece.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News