Axel Book drops 32 as San Beda denies Benilde for 2-0 start

Published April 12, 2024 10:17am

Updated April 12, 2024 10:17am

Axel Book picked up where he left off as San Beda University overcame De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 16-25, 25-23, 30-28, 25-19, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s volleyball tournament on Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Book fueled the Red Spikers’ 8-1 closing run en route to a 32-point outing anchored on 26 attacks, five blocks, and an ace as the Ariel Dela Cruz-mentored crew cruised to its second straight win in as many games while the Blazers remained winless at 0-2. 

San Beda, which was coming off a grueling five-set victory against Lyceum last Tuesday, got its bearings in the crucial fourth set when Kevin Montemayor started the momentum with back-to-back points that tied things up at 12-all. 

Benilde, though, put some fight in bid to bounce back from a five-set loss to Emilio Aguinaldo College in the opener with Mike Balbacal unleashing two straight attacks to get the lead at 18-17. 

Book then forced another deadlock at 18-all before he rejected Jacob Herrera, followed by a Mark Baldos ace as San Beda built a pivotal 22-18 cushion. 

Amel Aguilar would still give Benilde another point off an opposite kill, but Book responded with a personal 3-0 rampage capped by a strong attack from the back row to seal the deal. 

Book, who produced 24 points in their last game, got ample help from the rest of the pack with Montemayor chipping in 14 points while Anrie Bakil and Mohammad Tahiluddin chimed in with seven markers apiece. 

Balbacal and James Marasigan paced Benilde with 16 points each while Aguilar listed 14. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News