Benilde out to spoil Perpetual's NCAA men's volley sweep

Games Tuesday

 

(Filoil Flying V Center)

9:30 a.m.- LPU vs JRU (m)

11 a.m.- LPU vs JRU (w)

12:30 p.m.- UPHSD vs CSB (w)

2 p.m.- UPHSD vs CSB (m)

 

MANILA, Philippines — Perpetual Help seeks to complete an elimination round sweep and zoom straight to the finals as it clashes while defending champion College of St. Benilde tries to prevent it as the two collide Tuesday in the 93rd NCAA men’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

 

The Altas bashed the Letran Knights, 25-20, 25-19, 25-22, Friday to seal their eighth straight victory while moving them one closer to sweeping their way straight to the best-of-three finals that would also leave the rest of the field battling for the last finals berth in a stepladder semifinals instead of a Final Four.

 

“We’re focused on that target and we’ve worked hard for this singular goal of reclaiming the championship,” said Perpetual Help coach Sammy Acaylar, who last won two seasons ago and was denied a back-to-back after losing to CSB in last year’s finale.

 

The Blazers, who are already assured of a spot in the next round with a 6-2 mark, are hoping to spoil the party for the Altas.

 

“We just want to go into the next round coming from a victory,” said CSB coach Arnold Laniog.

 

In the women’s division, Perpetual Help shoots for an outright Final Four seat while College of St. Benilde aims to stay in the hunt as the two face off at 12:30 p.m.

 

The Lady Altas are currently at third place with a 6-2 (win-loss) slate and a win in their 12:30 p.m. duel with the Blazers will catapult the former straight to the Final Four alongside the Arellano U Lady Chiefs and San Beda Lady Red Spikers, the top two seeds with 8-1 cards.

 

The Las Pinas-based school downed Letran, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-10, Friday to ensure itself of at least a playoff for a Final Four berth.

 

CSB, for its part, is tied with Jose Rizal, which faces off with Lyceum of the Phl U at 11 a.m., with identical 5-3 cards, is hoping for a win that would also seal it a playoff for that important spot in the next phase.

 

A loss though would mean automatic elimination for the Lady Blazers, assuming the Lady Bombers beat the Lady Pirates.

 

But if CSB and JRU both lose, the two will fall into a three-way tie for the fourth and last spot in the next round with idle San Sebastian on 5-4 marks. Ties will be broken by playoffs set on Thursday and, if necessary, on Friday.