THE SAN BEDA Red Spikers fell short against the San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) Golden Stags in a tightly-contested four set match, 1-3, during the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre last April 27.
The Red Spikers fell into the traps of the Recto-based squad, as powerful spikes continued to tear through their defense, resulting in a staggering 10-16 run in the opening.
Following the continuous surge of points from the Golden Stags, the San Beda Red Spikers found their momentum, outmanoeuvring the Stags defense and forcing a thrilling 22-22 tie.
Unable to redirect the opposing spikes, the Stags overtook the Mendiola-based squad with a two-point run, 22-24, forcing a timeout.
Munsing, fresh after a timeout, opened with a surgical strike for the Red Spikers, 23-24. However, SSC-R quickly retaliated to deliver the final blow of the set, finishing the first set, 23-25.
In the second set of the match, early rallies allowed the Stags to build a 9-2 lead, forcing the Red Spikers to call a timeout.
However, the huge gap remained as San Beda struggled to capitalize and close in, ultimately conceding another set to the SSC-R Golden Stags, 18-25.
In the third set, the Red Spikers started strong with consecutive strikes and the Stags flunking with a net touch, culminating to a 4-1 lead.
Further widening the gap, Montemayor delivered three-peat strikes to settle the score to an 8-3.
With the red-clad spikers pushing their momentum to a 12-6 lead at the onset of the third set, the Golden Stags resorted to a timeout.
Despite calling a timeout, the Red Spikers maintained their momentum with Anrie Bakil and Axel Van Book hammered down huge points to claim the third set victory, 25-17.
As the fourth set began, the San Beda Red Spikers and SSC-R Golden Stags traded close points, neither team willing to let a sizable gap form. With the score at 8-7, both sides kept the pressure on, exchanging crucial points.
The San Beda Red Spikers ultimately fell behind 17-23 as the SSC-R Golden Stags seized control, with a standout spiker leading the charge and widening the gap toward a near-certain victory.
With a commanding lead, the SSC-R Golden Stags sealed the match with a perfectly executed combination play, shattering San Beda’s one-man block and scoring the game-winning point to claim victory in the fourth set and the match, 19-25.
Set Scores:
San Beda – SSC-R: 23-25, 18-25, 25-17, 19-25
Box Scores:
San Beda (1): Bakil 13, Book 13, Acosta 10, Montemayor 10, Munsing 9, Ignacio 6, Castañeda 4, Tahiluddin 1
SSC-R (3): Espenida 20, Villamor 18, Alba 17, Lim 12, Binondo 5, Sarisari 3, Suga 3
(with Asher Ugaddan)