Altas claim NCAA volleyball double

Perpetual SRS cop 11th title; jr squad nails 4th in row

MANILA, Philippines — Perpetual Help smashed its way to the NCAA volleyball throne in seniors and juniors divisions as they completed the double title romp over Arellano U and Letran, respectively, at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

The Altas bucked the loss of playmaker Warren Catipay in the opening frame and a seven-point deficit in the fourth set to eke out a 23-25, 27-25, 25-19, 25-23 victory over the Chiefs in sudden death to capture their 11th seniors plum.

Opposite spiker Rey Taneo picked up the slack after Catipay tweaked his right ankle late in the first set and the Altas banked on sheer grit to sweep the next three, including two in gripping fashion as the Las Piñas-based school reclaimed the crown they lost to last year’s winner St. Benilde.

Taneo ended up with 22 excellent sets while adding 11 points, including nine attack points. He also produced seven digs and went on to bag the Finals MVP honors.

Trailing by as many as seven points twice, the last at 12-19, Perpetual Help clawed its way back while pouncing on AU’s series of miscues.

John Patrick Ramos delivered the championship point – a powerful kill straight to an unguarded spot in the middle – triggering a wild celebration for the Altas and their supporters.

The victory also capped the big day for Perpetual Help, whose juniors squad earlier blasted Letran, 25-17, 25-17, 25-17, to nail its 10th high school crown.

Perpetual Help overpowered Letran with its relentless attacking game and posted a 25-17, 25-17, 25-17 victory to complete a rare four-peat feat in the juniors’ division of the NCAA volleyball at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

Ivan Encila and Noel Kampton fired 16 and 15 hits, respectively, while Jody Severo, season MVP Kirth Rosos and Kharyll Parce combined for 24 points to power the Junior Altas to a title sweep, their fourth straight and 11th overall.