Bembem Bautista soared above the defense for a down-the-line smash at match point, triggering a Letran celebration never experienced in the past 15 NCAA men’s volleyball seasons.
From a regular fixture in street competitions, Bautista now gets to play on an obviously bigger stage after spearheading the Knights’ return to the Finals with a 22-25, 28-26, 25-14, 25-20 semifinal closeout win over College of St. Benilde on Friday in Season 100.
“As someone who played mostly on the streets, I never imagined that I would be able to bring my talents to the (NCAA) Finals,’’ said Bautista in Filipino after hammering the CSB defense with 24 attacks out of a career-high 27 points.
The fourth-ranked Knights completely erased the No. 1-seeded Blazers’ twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four for a first championship appearance since Season 85 when Letran won its third straight title.
“We promised ourselves that we will reach the championship. Everybody in the team thought the same way since the season began and we did it,” said Bautista, who likewise shone on the defensive end with 27 excellent receptions apart from two blocks and an ace.
Vince Himzon teamed up with Bautista on walloping the Blazers with 18 points on top of three blocks, while setter John Wayne Arano got them into the groove with 17 excellent sets.
Adrian Villados launched 20 excellent sets and four block points, hitter Arman Guinto added 15 points as Arellano likewise hurdled Mapua’s twice-to-beat edge, 25-20, 20-15, 20-15, to arrange a Finals showdown with the Knights.
Bautista, who played for Arellano in high school, had preferred to meet his former school in the best-of-three championship series that starts Sunday at Filoil Arena in San Juan.
“This is really overwhelming. They dominated us in the first and second rounds, but we were able to get back at them here in the semifinals,” said long-time Letran coach Brian Esquibel, who played for the Knights’ men’s volley program in another “three-peat” back in the 1990s.
Mike Balbacal and Raymark Betco had 15 points each for the Blazers.
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