MANILA, Philippines - The Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder drew strength from two veterans to get past the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Patriots, 27-25, 13-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-13 Thursday and clinch the men’s title of the 17th National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) volleyball tournament.
Aldasir Biting and Abdul Sabtal stepped up in the last two sets as they led the Blue Thunder to their second crown in three years at the Olivarez College Sports Complex in Sucat, Parañaque.
It took the Blue Thunder 100 minutes to get past the Patriots and complete a 2-0 sweep of their best-of-three finals series in this spikefest supported by Mikasa and Molten Balls.
RTU fell behind in the fourth set behind the Patriots’ timely blocks but it bounced back on the fifth using the services and attacks of Biting and Sabtal to move out of reach with an 11-3 score.
“Our boys did a good job on their serves – and that helped us win,” said RTU coach George Pascua.
It was a different story in the women’s side as the La Salle-Dasmariñas Lady Patriots, banking on the return of veterans April Almaden and Regina Tungol, pulled off a 26-24, 22-25,25-21, 25-21 stopping of the RTU Lady Thunder in Game 2 of their championship duel.
The Lady Patriots tied their best-of-three showdown with RTU at 1-all, setting up a deciding Game 3 on Thursday at the Ugnayang La Salle gymnasium at 10 a.m.
The Lady Patriots needed 95 minutes to fend off the Lady Thunder and got a boost from the powerful spikes of Almaden and Tungol, who did not play in Game 1 because of their thesis defense.
The two joined hands with Jennifer Manzano and Wensh Tiu as they whipped up a storm with their attacking combinations at the front and back.
“Our experience was a factor in this game,” said Lady Patriots coach Darwin Campana.