THE TEAMS of Communication Arts (CA), Economics, Political Science (PolSci) and Behavioral Science (BES) propelled right into the semifinals of AB Sportsfest 2016 mixed volleyball tournament after topping their respective brackets in the elimination round.
Defending champion Communication Arts made the teams under bracket C bow down as they swept Philosophy in a two-to-nothing set victory.
CA fashioned out another sweep after a triumphant performance against Literature last Feb. 16, edging Philosophy this time, 25-11 and 25-23.
Starting with an early seven-point lead in the first set, CA’s Jepoy Francisco sizzled the pits as he fired up six consecutive service aces leading to a first set win, 25-11.
CA’s errors in the second set caused the team to slow down as Philosophy, through John Paul Cruda, hustled up to match the attacks of CA. But the efforts of Philosophy were trounced by CA’s defense, enabling the defending champion to slip past their opponent, 25-23.
Meanwhile, last season’s first runner-up Economics tallied its second win under bracket B after beating Asian Studies (ASN) in a straight set win, 25-14 and 25-14.
Jose Mari Sanga’s seething attacks in the first set provided points for Economics despite the absence of fellow attacker and AB Volleyball Team player Jayson Lumapas. But Lumapas, despite coming in late, suited up and complemented the offense of Sanga in the second set.
The power-hitting duo closed the tournament’s door for ASN after Economics’ 25-14 second set victory.
Furthermore, History threatened PolSci twice in their three-set tussle but the latter managed to get the job done with a 25-22, 20-25, and 25-18 win.
History, led by AB Volleyball team captain Jejomar Palma, pounded the attacks of PolSci in the first set, earning a five-point advantage, 13-8.
But PolSci found a solid offensive footing through Judenn Mascareñas’ spikes and consecutive service aces, forcing an 18-18 deadlock. PolSci then rained in spikes and capitalized on the opposing team’s errors, leading to a 25-22 first set victory.
The second set was in History’s favor, 20-25, as they took advantage of PolSci’s net errors.
PolSci’s offense forced History to dwindle down on its attacks and focus on defense. Mascareñas buried back-to-back spikes late in the third set to seal the final set for PolSci, 25-18.
Motivated by their first game loss against English Language Studies (ELS), BES secured a semis spot after taking a straight set win against Sociology, 25-13 and 25-31.
Sociology battled it out in the second set as Carlo Lorenzo and Ian Bingabong refused to raise the opponent’s gap. Lorenzo openly returned his opponents’ attacks with spikes but with Scott Subiere and John Cruz of BES emerging, Sociology bid goodbye to a possible third set.
Moreover, the teams of History and Sociology also capped wins in the second day of the elimination round.
Bouncing back from their defeat against PolSci, History managed to slip past Legal Management (LegMa) in a three-set thriller, 25-22, 13-25, and 25-23.
The combination attacks of LegMa’s Wayne Parulan and Jason Pangan forced History to commit errors, snatching the second set win for their team.
But History’s Charles Vallo sealed the deal as he found the gap in the opposing team’s defense during the third set, closing the chance of LegMa to catch up, 25-23.
Meanwhile, Sociology surpassed an early offensive output by ELS in a three-set thriller, 15-25, 25-17, and 25-21.
Attacks from Ryoma Tamayo provided the points for ELS as they capitalized on the errors of Sociology and comfortably grabbed a 25-15 first set victory.
Sociology’s late rally in the second set kept them in the game as they scored five consecutive points through the spikes and blocks of Timothy Asinas, 25-17.
With the game hanging in the balance in the third set, the two teams went neck-and-neck as they drew to a tie at 20-20 until Sociology mounted a late rally led by Bingabong’s spike that gave his team the match point at 24-21. ELS failed to receive Sociology’s freeball, which capped the match.
Economics and CA will battle against each other on Feb. 22, Monday at 12:20nn to 1:40 pm while PolSci will face BES at 1:40-3:00 pm. Both games will be held at Felix Huertas Court. F DONN CLARENZE D. GONZALES and KRYSTAL GAYLE R. DIGAY
