Patriots claim ninth volley title

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle-Dasmariñas leaned on Joel Villanueva, Joven Racelis and Arvin Cacayurin as the Patriots repulsed the Olivarez College Sea Lions, 25-18, 25-17, 21-25, 25-15, to claim their ninth men’s crown in the 10th Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) volleyball tournament.

The troika took charge in the fourth set, keying the Patriots’ big comeback from a third set loss en route to victory for a sweep of their best-of-three title series at the Central Colleges of the Philippines gym.

The win marks the third straight year that La Salle-Dasmariñas won both the men’s and women’s volleyball crowns after the Lady Patriots subdued the Philippine School of Business Administration Lady Jaguars, 19-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-18, in the ladies finals.

The combination of Villanueva, Racelis and Cacayurin at the net gave the Patriots eight of nine points to transform a 12-13 deficit into a 20-14 lead.

Cacayurin bagged the MVP Honors while Audrey Kona, Rene Encisa and Ian Estrella made it to the Mythical Six, along with Olivarez ace Gutierrez and Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Crisologo Adena.