College of St. Benilde crawled back from a five-point deficit in the deciding set as it dethroned University of Perpetual Help, 25-12, 21-25, 17-25, 25-14, 18-16, yesterday to capture the NCAA men’s volleyball title at The Arena in San Juan City.
Trailing 7-3, the Blazers went down to work on their reception and net attacks before needing two match points to secure their first-ever title.
Graduating Johnvic De Guzman, who was earlier awarded the Season Most Valuable Player plum, spearheaded St. Benilde’s assault particularly in the fifth frame and finished with 28 points.
De Guzman, who later shared the championship trophy with his mother, Marissa, highlighted his performance with 26 kills.
De Guzman’s off-the-block spike set the tone for the Blazers and tied it at 16-all. Francis Basilan’s block put them at matchpoint before another off-the-block spike from Isaah Arda, who was later adjudged the Finals MVP, sealed the two-hour victory.
In the women’s side, Arellano dealt San Sebastian its first loss of the season with a 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 victory to take Game 1 of the finals.
Meanwhile, individual awards were given before the match that included San Beda’s Adrian Viray (First Best Outside Spiker) and Limuel Patenio (Second Best Middle Blocker), Arellano’s John Joseph Cabillan (Second Best Outside Spiker) and Kevin Liberato (First Best Middle Blocker), Perpetual’s Jack Kalingking (Best Libero), Relan Taneo (Best Setter), De Guzman (Best Opposite Spiker), and Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Joshua Mina (Rookie of the Year).
