Red-hot Letran weathers EAC to grab share of early lead

Published April 16, 2024 5:19pm

Updated April 16, 2024 5:19pm

Streaking Colegio de San Juan de Letran shrugged off a third set meltdown to pull off a 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-15 victory against Emilio Aguinaldo College and remain unbeaten in the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

The Lady Knights improved to 3-0 to tie Lyceum of the Philippines University at the top of the ladder while the Lady Generals fell to a 0-3 hole.

Already ahead by two sets and seven points in the third set, 15-8, the wards of new head coach Oliver Almadro saw their huge advantage cut down to three following a Jen Omapas rejection on Judiel Nitura, 19-22.

EAC skipper Cath Almazan then took care of succeeding plays, powering a 3-0 run to force deadlock before an attack error from Nitura and another soft touch from her gave the Lady Generals the set point, 24-22.

Almazan then issued another kill to send the game into an extension.

But there was no denying Letran came the fourth frame with Nitura bringing her side to a massive 20-11 cushion while star rookie Gia Maquilang went off the hands of Rhea Magalona to bring them to match point, 24-15.

An attack error from Omapas finished the job for Letran, which is coming off convincing wins against Arellano and Perpetual.

Rookie Yen Martin once again led the way for the Muralla crew, stuffing the stat sheet with 16 points anchored on 15 attacks on top of 10 digs and six receptions. Maquilang chipped in 12 markers and 15 receptions while Nitura and middle blocker Angelique Ledesma put up 11 and 10 points apiece.

The loss spoiled a 22-point outing from Almazan, who also grabbed eight digs.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News