Perpetual spikers battle San Beda

Games Friday:

(Paco Arena)

10 a.m. — La Salle vs UST (m)

12 p.m. — Perpetual vs San Beda (m)

2 p.m. — CSB vs Lyceum (w)

4 p.m. — Perpetual vs SSC-R (w)

University of Perpetual Help System DALTA shoots for a second straight win and a hold of the solo lead against San Beda University in the V-League Men's Collegiate Challenge today at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association champions look to add the Red Spikers to their list of victims in the scheduled 12 p.m. match of the double-header playdate.

Perpetual repulsed NCAA rival Emilio Aguinaldo College, 29-27, 26-24, 25-19, sans ace scorer Louie Ramirez last Wednesday.

Ramirez is currently in Japan for a three-week training with Japan V.League club Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler along with assistant coach Macky Carino.

With the NCAA Most Valuable Player out of action, team captain JC Enarciso, Kobe Tabuga and Klint Mateo have been providing the much-needed production on offense for the Altas.

Although tipped to pluck another win, head coach Sammy Acaylar reminded his wards not to take San Beda lightly.

"I always tell my players not to be complacent, especially against an NCAA team because we are the defending champions of NCAA," he said.

"All teams and all the players here are very competitive. I guess it will just be a matter of luck which team will win."

Meanwhile, Josh Ybanez is back to lead last year's runner-up University of Santo Tomas for an unfinished business.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 Rookie of the Year and MVP will again be the focal point of the Golden Spikers' offense as they try to open their campaign with a bang in an explosive showdown against De La Salle University at 10 a.m.

UST came up short of claiming the inaugural crown last season after falling prey to powerhouse National University in Game 3. The Golden Spikers also had a bride's maid finish in the UAAP behind the Bulldogs.

Helping out Ybanez are Gboy De Vega, Rainer Flor and Dux Yambao against a formidable Green Spikers crew led by national team standout Noel Kampton, John Mark Ronquillo, Vince Maglinao and playmaker Diogenes Poquita.

Meanwhile, back-to-back NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde begins its title quest in the women's division against Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Game time is set at 2 p.m. to be followed by the Perpetual and San Sebastian College-Recoletos clash at 4 p.m.

Parading a veteran core spearheaded by Gayle Pascual, Michelle Gamit, Jade Gentapa and heady setter Cloanne Mondonedo, the Lady Blazers are considered as one of the favorites to win it all after last year's top two teams Ateneo de Manila University and Adamson University took a leave of absence.

CSB won third place in the 2022 edition of the tournament.

The Lady Blazers seek to join Far Eastern University and University of the East in the win column.

The Lady Tamaraws swept Mapua University, 25-13, 25-18, 25-15, while the rookie-laden Lady Warriors dominated Enderun College, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20, last Wednesday.