Bulldogs secure QF berth
Games Monday (The Arena, San Juan) 1 p.m. – St. Benilde vs La Salle 3 p.m. – NCBA vs EAC 5 p.m. – UE vs Mapua
National University bested National College of Business and Arts in straight sets, 2516, 25-14, 25-23, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.
The Bulldogs took the first two sets with nary a trouble but needed a defensive gem by Bryan Bagunas in the third set to scuttle NCBA’s late fightback and join early Group A qualifier Emilio Aguinaldo College into the next round.
Both NU and EAC have similar 3-0 cards.
NU surged ahead 21-13 in the third but a maze of errors allowed the Wildcats to close the gap at 23-21 before Bagunas came through with a timely block to stop their skid.
A service error and a net violation by NU, however, gave NCBA a ray of hope as they remained within striking distance, 24-23.
But to their horror, the Wildcats also committed a net violation thus ending their bid to tie the match, and perhaps extend it.
Francis Saura led the Bulldogs with 11 points while Bagunas and Kim Malabunga added 10 points each as they handed the Wildcats their first loss in three games.
Though composed mostly of rookies and sophomores, the Bulldogs displayed solid defense, coming through with 10 blocks and nine aces.
No NCBA player scored in double figures with the six points of Paul John Domingo and Daryl Valenzuela proved to be the highest.
Guest players Reyson Fuentes and Edwin Tolentino, both graduates of NU, could only score three points each as they were tightly marked.
Earlier, College of St. Benilde bounced back from a disappointing performance the last time by trouncing Arellano University, 25-17, 20-25, 25-18, 25-18, to boost its quarters bid.
The runner-up in the NCAA season highlighted their superb performance with 19 blocks that helped them notch their second victory in three outings for a share of second place in Group B.
Guest players Francis Basilan and Ron Jordan stood tall on the defensive end as they combined for nine blocks during the Blazers’ 98-minute triumph.
St. Benilde Coach Arnold Laniog paid tribute to the team’s all-around effort that was sorely missed in last week’s four-set loss to University of the Philippines.
In the third game, La Salle rolled past sister team La Salle-Dasmariñas, 25-17, 25-18, 25-22, for a 2-1 record in Group B. Cris Dumago and John Arjay Onia led the Green Archers with 12 points each.