By Kristel Satumbaga
University of Perpetual Help earned outright finals berths in the men’s and juniors divisions while its women’s team booked the last semifinal ticket yesterday in NCAA volleyball at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Altas toppled the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Bombers, 25-21, 25-21, 25-13, while the Junior Altas walloped the Light Bombers, 25-13, 25-17, 25-11, to complete nine-game elimination sweeps.
Their flawless elims campaigns propelled them straight to the best-of-three finals starting Feb. 1.
Ronniel Rosales and Rookie-MVP Joebert Almodiel bombarded the Bombers with heavy spikes to complete another dominant win.
They finished with 14 and 12 points as the Altas await the winner in the stepladder semifinals involving No. 2 College of St. Benilde (8-1), No. 3 Arellano (7-2) and No. 4 Emilio Aguinaldo College (5-4).
The Junior Altas, meanwhile, will face the winner in the stepladder semis among Letran, Lyceum and EAC as they bid for their fifth straight juniors crown.
The Lady Altas, for their part, had to go through the eye of the needle before eking out a 25-13, 19-25, 25-21, 25-14 victory over the Lady Bombers.
In the semis, they will face top seed College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers.
They finished the elims at No. 4 with six wins and three losses.
Lady Altas coach Macky Cariño said he is inspired, but not pressured, for his stalwarts to make a mark like their junior and senior counterparts.
“I want to look up to them (junior and men’s teams). For now, we’re focused on the Final Four first, on how to beat St. Benilde twice,” said Cariño, referring to the Lady Blazers’ twice-to-beat advantage due to their top seeding.
