LAS PIÑAS CITY ˗ Fresh from clinching the NCAA men’s volleyball crown, the University of Perpetual Help Altas spikers defeated UAAP champions the NU Bulldogs men’s volleyball team to win the first Philippine University Volleyball League (PUVL) tournament held recently.
Showing better cohesion, the boys of team owner Tony Tamayo demolished the Bulldogs in straight sets, 25-17, 25-18, 33-31, in the match dubbed as “Battle of Champions” at the Home of the Altas gymnasium II in Barangay Pamplona III here.
Members of the team also ran away with the most number of major awards Louie Ramirez winning both the MVP and Best Attacker awards. John Philip Pepito also emerged as the Best Libero while JC Enarciso and Sammy Acaylar shared the Best Coach award.
It was a sweet revenge for the Altas men’s tossers as they lost only once during the tournament against the NU Bulldogs during the elimination round.
“We have a solid team this year and our team played with a lot of guts and pride. We did not want to lose on our home turf,” said Acaylar.
Not to be left out were the Perpetual Junior Altas of coach Sandy Rieta who extended their reign to six seasons last Saturday at Arellano U Pasay city campus gymnasium.
In all, it was the 12th crown of the Junior Altas since joining the NCAA in 1984.
Jon Rey Solamillo was named 1st Best Outside spiker and Most Valuable Player, Niño Versano was 2nd Best Outside spiker, and Rieta as Coach of the Year.
The Perpetual Altas sand spikers composed of Ramirez, Jeffferson Marapoc (MVP) and John Philip Pepito also ruled the NCAA men’s beach volleyball by dethroning Emilio Aguinaldo College, 21-10, 15- 21,15-13, at the Subic Bay sand court on Jan. 21, 2023
With the win, the Altas earned the right to represent the country at this year’s Summer Universaide in Bali, Indonesia.
The Perpetual Lady Altas, however, settled for a runner up finish after absorbing a heart-breaking 25-13, 25-19, 23-25, 22-25, 13-15 loss to the Mapua Lady Cardinals.
With three titles in a span of just seven days, Perpetual just proved to everybody that the school’s volleyball program is one of the best in the country.
