HOWARD Mojica took charge during the crucial moments in the fourth set as he provided the key points that carried Emilio Aguinaldo College to a 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20 win over College of St. Benilde and the men’s championship of the 90th National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.
Mojica, who eventually earned Most Valuable Player honors, dished out 28 points in helping the EAC Generals earn their first-ever crown after three straight championship appearances.
“Nagbunga lahat ng pinaghirapan namin. Nakita ko ang puso ng mga bata sa laro,” said Generals’ coach Rod Palmero.
The six-foot Mojica slowly moved the Generals ahead, 8-6, with his kill shot before Kerth Melliza kept up the pressure with a pair of placement shots handing EAC a four-point lead, 14-10.
The Generals finished their best-of-three series at 2-1, bouncing back in Game 2 after a first-game loss with a 25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-13 victory over the Blazers.
It was tight a first set, but the Generals still prevailed.
Bothered by a sprained ankle he sustained in Game 1, Mojica and his teammates tried to pick up the pace in the second set. But the Blazers, led by Johnvic de Guzman with 20 hits, stayed close and equalized the contest at 25-23.
Adjustments in their offense in the third set allowed the Generals to control the middle, with Mojica and Melliza providing attack points, 25-19. Melliza’s block and kill shot then saw EAC protecting a five-point advantage midway in the fourth, 19-14.
The Generals were close to winning it all last year after barging into the finals. But, they lost to eventual winner Perpetual Help.
All in all, Mojica averaged 29 in the series, enough to add the Finals MVP trophy to his collection of a season MVP plum and NCAA championship.
After the championship was sealed, the players and coaches hugged each other, while some shed tears of joy.
They then sang their school hymn with the matching salute, before waving to their supporters in a show of thanks.
It was also a redemption of sorts for EAC, which is still smarting from flak it received after its senior basketball team got embroiled in an ugly free-for-all against Mapua in the first semester last year that resulted in the ejection of players and a one-game forfeiture.