At A Glance
- The Blazing Spikers appeared headed for doom after losing the third and fourth sets but found their second wind with Betco and Rocky Motol taking turns in delivering the goods to force a decider on Friday, April 10.
Reymark Betco scores for College of St. Benilde. (NCAA Images)
Raymart Betco exploded for 33 points and College of St. Benilde lived to fight another day with a five-set thriller over Mapua, 25-18, 25-21, 22-25, 20-25, 15-9 in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 101 men’s volleyball finals at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday, April 8.
The Blazing Spikers appeared headed for doom after losing the third and fourth sets but found their second wind with Betco and Rocky Motol taking turns in delivering the goods to force a decider on Friday, April 10.
Betco was unstoppable, firing 30 of his total from the attack line — none bigger than the one he nailed right at the middle to put the Blazing Spikers on the match point, 14-8.
Motol then hammered the final nail on Mapua’s coffin with a cross court attack. He chipped in 18 points while Mike Balbacal also stepped up with 10.
Martin Baldado and Chris Villanueva also came out huge for CSB with 20 and 10 excellent sets respectively.
Losing steam after Mapua tied the game at two sets apiece, Betco said the team simply fed on the energy of the crowd, particularly the CSB community in attendance.
“Kumuha kami ng lakas sa mga nanonood kasi bumiyahe pa sila galing malayo so dapat pag nanonood sila, dapat kami manalo. Lalo na sa Benilde Community grabe yung suporta nila sa amin kaya dapat din namin palitan ng tiyaga,” said the 20-year-old sophomore.
Arjay Ramos and Barbie San Andres, who pumped life to the Cardinals’ fightback after going down 0-2, provided a one-two punch with 20 and 18 points, respectively.
Good thing, Mapua still has the chance at ending the 28-year title drought in Game 3.