NCAA: Perpetual Help wins first-ever women's volley title
February 8, 2010 1:11 am
MANILA, Feb. 7 — Perpetual Help’s Keshia de Luna and April Ann Sartin tamed St. Benilde’s Giza Yumang and LC Quemada, 21-18, 21-17, Sunday to reign supreme in the women’s division of the 85th NCAA beach volleyball competition at the Cantada Sports Center in Taguig City.
De Luna and Sartin leaned on its superb net defense and court coverage to neutralize the power-hitting pair of Yumang and Quemada and clinch the Las Pinas-based school’s first title in the event organized by a league committee chaired by Jose Rizal’s Paul Supan.
Perpetual Help made it a twin victory after its high school pair of John Francisco and Louie Chavez downed San Sebastian’s PJ Rojas and Harold Nacino, 21-11, 21-15, in their own finale.
“It’s overwhelming, our hard work paid off, our defense clicked,” said the 20-year-old de Luna, who emerged the tournament MVP.
The Lady Blazers actually clinched the last finals berth after dethroning the San Sebastian belles, 21-13, 21-19, in the semifinals.
The Lady Altas made it first to the championship round in a pair of gripping victories over San Sebastian, 21-12, 18-21, 16-14, and St. Benilde, 18-21, 21-12, 15-10.
Letran, meanwhile, successfully defending its men’s crown as Warren Pirante and Erickson Ramos tripped upset conscious Gerry Dave and Chris Salvador of Arellano U, 21-17, 21-17.
The title by the Knights served as a fitting farewell gift to Pirante, who will graduate this March, while Ramos capped the school’s effort by nailing the MVP plum in the meet backed by Mikasa, Speedo, Gatorade and Cheers. (PNA) DCT/LOR
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