By: Andrea Ponce
The Letran Volleyball teams face double losses after a strong showing from the Mapua Cardinals. Photo courtesy of Eduardo Nollora Jr. and William Tulagan of The LANCE.
Men’s Division
The Letran Knights met defeat at the hands of the Mapua Cardinals, 22-25, 29-31, 25-15, 21-25, in the NCAA Season 99 Men’s Volleyball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre yesterday.
Derrick Baustita tallied 17 points, with 19 excellent receptions and six excellent digs, followed by Vince Himzon and Steven Sta. Maria, who both finished with 14 markers, respectively.
Letran saw themselves down a set after the opening frame with the Muralla-based squad seeking a different outcome in the second after Keith Wingco and Sta. Maria's attacks forced a deuce, 23-23.
Neither team wanted to yield with the lead swinging back and forth. All their scorers found ways to score on the floor but after an attack error by the Knights, Barbie San Andres delivered the finishing blow with a swift attack, 31-29.
Coach Brian Esquibel's squad had one last fight in them, clobbering Mapua and leading by as many as 11 in an effort to pull off a reverse sweep capped off by Paolo Lorenzo's spike through the defense, 25-15.
Despite their best attempts at extending the game into a decider, the determined Cardinals took every chance and opportunity to deny the Knights sealing the victory, 21-25.
San Andres netted a game-high 22 points, along with 17 excellent receptions, followed by Ar-Jay Ramos with 18 points, six excellent digs, and an ace.
Women’s Division
The Letran Lady Knights experienced their second loss of the tournament versus the Mapua Lady Cardinals, 19-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-27.
Lea Tapang garnered 12 points, 11 attacks, 11 excellent digs, and five excellent receptions, while Gia Maquilang and Judiel Nitura had 10 apiece.
The Lady Knights trailed two sets to none and looked bound to surrender a three-set loss. Yet, Maquilang was eager to make sure her squad did not go down without a fight as she stepped up on the defensive and offensive ends.
Her heroics were matched by Angelique Ledesma and Lea Tapang, who staggered the Lady Cardinals and pressured them into committing errors, allowing Letran to steal a set off a 5-0 run, 25-21.
Threatened by the dominance shown by the Lady Knights' at the end of the third set, the red shirts regrouped and started to regain the momentum.
After a nip-and-tuck affair in the fourth, Mapua came out on top after a Janel Ricablanca spike and an attack error by Letran ended the game, 25-27.
Ricablanca top-scored with 19 points on 15 attacks, three blocks, and an ace, along with five excellent digs. Roxie Dela Cruz had 14 points on 13 attacks with 11 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions for their respective team.
Letran's volleyball teams look to get back to their winning ways as they bid for a spot in the Final Four and a shot at the title as they face the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) this coming Tuesday, April 30.