Archers gain No. 2, repulse Maroons

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle rode on a big fourth set fightback and outlasted University of the Philippines in a tight finish to carve out a 25-22, 24-26, 15-25, 25-13, 15-13 decision and assure itself of at least a second place finish in Group B of the Spikers’ Turf Season 1-Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Arjay Onia unloaded a match-best 25 hits, including 20 on kills, three on blocks and two aces as the Archers wound up with a 4-1 (win-loss) record after the single round elims of the event presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

Ateneo leads the pack with a 4-0 card and is eyeing a sweep against St. Benilde at presstime.

“We just showed composure in the end,” said La Salle coach Ronald Dulay.

Skipper Raymark Woo fired 17 hits while Mike Anthony Frey tossed in 12 markers to help La Salle move into the quarterfinal round on a winning note with its elims record a big plus in the carryover quarters.

Team captain Alfred Gerard Valbuena uncorked a team-high 21 for the Maroons, who closed out their elims campaign with a 3-2 slate.

Aside from Ateneo, La Salle and UP, College of St. Benilde also advanced with a 2-3 mark.

Group B teams will play all four of the Group A qualifiers, headed by National U (5-0), Emilio Aguinaldo College (4-1), Far Eastern U (2-3) and National College of Business and Arts (2-2).

In the other game, National College of Business and Arts also went through a wringer before subduing also-ran University of the East, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 18-25, 16-14, as it improved to 3-2 going to the quarters.

Out of it all with a 0-4 card, the Warriors battled back from two sets down to force a decider where they engaged the Wildcats in a see-saw battle before losing steam at endgame.

Reyson Fuentes topscored for NCBA with 12 hits while skipper Jason Canlas and Jonel Oclima fired 11 points apice and Daryl Valenzuela and guest player Edwin Tolentino chipped in nine hits apiece.