Mapua exposed Letran’s title pretensions with a 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 27-25 victory on Friday, boosting the former’s Final Four hopes in NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
It was the Lady Cardinals’ third straight win and fourth overall in six starts that sealed them a share of third spot with the Lady Knights, who suffered a second defeat in a row after opening the season with four consecutive triumphs.
Three-peat seeking College of St. Benilde currently leads the way with a 6-0 record while Lyceum of the Philippines is at second with an equally pristine 5-0 mark.
It also put Mapua in prime position to claim a return trip to the Final Four while bolstering its bid of sealing a breakthrough championship.
Raisa Ricablanca presided over the attack by unloading 19 points, 15 of which came off kills, while Roxie dela Cruz pounded in 14 hits while being the anchor of Mapua’s sterling floor defense with 11 digs and 10 receptions.
It could have been a straight sweep for Mapua had it not blown a 15-10 lead in the third set.
But the Lady Cardinals lost concentration amid a furious fightback by the Lady Knights, who took 15 of the next 21 points to steal the set and force another one.
Mapua also almost threw away a 23-18 upperhand in the fourth set after the Lady Knights came roaring back again.
Thankfully, fortune favored the brave Lady Cardinals, who hung tough enough to preserve the set and the win.