By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The San Beda University Red Spikers showed resiliency and will to win after completing a come-from-behind victory in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 98 men’s volleyball tournament grand finals last April 14, 2023.
Down two sets behind against the no.1 University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, the Red Spikers stepped up in the last three sets to force a win-or-go-home Game 3, 17-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 15-11, held at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Aside from their emphatic Game 2 victory, San Beda also made history as the first-ever team to snap Perpetual’s 32-game winning streak.
It was Ralph Cabalsa who answered the call for the Red Spikers after putting up an impressive 18-point production built from 17 successful attacks.
Cabalsa came alive at the start of the third set when San Beda was badly looking for a scoring avalanche to match Perpetual’s firepower.
The Red Spikers survived an outburst from Perpetual star Louie Ramirez who was on fire from the get-go and dropped a total of 32 markers.
Ramirez helped Perpetual take care of the first two sets and was manhandling the whole San Beda blockers every time he rose for a spike kill.
However, Perpetual had to go to battle without their offensive juggernaut as Ramirez exited the game due to cramps late in the third set.
Ramirez would return late in the fourth set but San Beda already retook the much-needed momentum that allowed them to generate more points off their quick 1-2 plays.
San Beda will have the chance to rewrite NCAA men’s volleyball history when they meet again with Perpetual on April 16, 2023, for the winner-take-all Game 3 match.
