MU MVT serves perfect run in the first NCAA 100 elims round

Article by: John Marvin A. Corsino and Setheleh Liam G. Ramos

Graphics by: Albert Dylan D. David and Crismhil S. Anselmo

Photo by: Marcus D. Agustin

Securing a flawless run with nine wins and zero losses, the Mapúa University Men’s Volleyball Team (MU MVT) ranked first in the first elimination round of the Men’s Volleyball tournament of the National College Athletics Association (NCAA) Season 100, which ran from February 20 to April 11.

Opening the round with a masterclass, the Cards took the first match against the San Sebastian College–Recoletos (SSC-R) Stags in four sets, 21-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-14, after finding their footing following a first set deficit. With open spiker Ar-jay Ramos leading the way with 23 points, closely backed by Team Captain Barbie San Andres with 22 points, the Cardinals blazed through their first opponents’ home court in Quiapo, Manila on February 21.

Keeping their rhythm at its peak, the red and gold spikers managed to edge past a five-set thriller, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 17-15, against the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Knights last February 27 at the San Beda University (SBU) Gymnasium. Despite Team Captain San Andres’ unprecedented cramps in the final set, the team clinched their second win led by Ramos, who once again proved his unparalleled drive by dropping 25 points with 24 spikes and a service ace. San Andres’ 17 and open spiker Saint Marlowe Jamisola’s 14 points also proved pivotal to the MVT’s win.

Continuing their domination of the season, the Cardinals sank their Intramuros neighbors, the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates, with a reverse sweep last March 7 on their own turf. Repivoting from a rough two-set deficit position, 23-25, 14-25, the MVT did not let their undefeated streak go rogue, coming back strong in the latter three sets, 25-19, 25-20, 15-9. Delivering his third consecutive key performance, Ramos scored a whopping 25 points from 23 attacks and two service aces, with San Andres chipping in on the support with her own 24 points.

Charging back into battle to defend their untouched slate, the MU MVT toppled Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals in a back-and-forth fight, 25-16, 22-25, 25-20, 25-27, 15-12, last March 13 at the Arellano University (AU) Gymnasium. The tight match featured top scorer Ramos’ career-high performance with 27 points from 24 spikes, two blocks, and one service ace with Jamisola following closely behind with 20 points. Toppling opponents left and right, Ramos was hailed Player of the Week shortly after four consecutive key performances throughout MVT’s first four games, proving himself to be invaluable to the team’s immovable 9-0 finish.

Setting their sights on another win, the red and gold team powered through a four-set thriller against the AU Chiefs, 23-25, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25, last March 15 at their opponent’s home court. Putting on a show for her first key performance, Team Captain San Andres took charge with 21 points from 17 spikes, three service aces and one block along with six excellent digs, hand in-hand with Ramos’ own 15 points all from fierce attacks.

Swinging right back in with unrelenting momentum, the Intramuros-based squad once again commanded the court against the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers last March 21. Even at their opponents’ home court, the blazing Cardinals barely gave the Mandaluyong troop’s break, scoring 25-22, 25-15, 24-26, 25-21. Ramos added yet another player of the match title under his belt after delivering 23 points from 18 spikes and three service aces with San Andres on the support, gaining her own 23 points.

Untouchable and ready to bring home another win for their alma mater, the red and gold squad shaded past the San Beda University (SBU) Red Spikers in another five-set, 25-17, 25-23, 16-25, 16-25, 15-13, last March 29 at the EAC gymnasium. MU MVT Captain San Andres unleashed her second key performance with 25 points from 21 attacks, two blocks, and two service aces, Ramos closely behind with his own 21 points.

Blazing past the Taft spikers for a quick 3-1 win, 25-17, 21-25, 28-26, 26-24, the MU MVT sealed the penultimate match of the first-round eliminations against the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Blazers last April 3. San Andres once again took the spotlight with a masterclass in volleyball after serving 27 points off 21 attacks, two blocks, and four service aces.

To conclude the round one eliminations, the MVT edged past the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Altas last April 5. Crowning themselves atop the league, the Cards finished their 9-0 sweep in a showstopping five-set clash, 25-20, 31-33, 25-16, 21-25, 15-11. With 20 points and nine digs, San Andres showed yet another top performance beyond her past four to beat the reigning champions in their own home court.

Following stellar presence in the back-to-back wins against league-leading Benilde and defending champion Perpetual, San Andres earned the second Player of the Week honors for the MU MVT, joining Ramos as one of the athletes to watch out for this season.

Seeing a significant improvement from the last season for the Cardinals, Ramos shared in an exclusive interview with The New Builder how they prepared this time around.

“Mas pinagtuunan talaga namin ng pansin ang disiplina at consistency sa training,”

he commented. Throughout their consistent daily training routines, the veteran open spiker shared that the team covered strength and conditioning, skills training, and even mental preparation, saying,

“mas naging seryoso na rin kami sa goals namin bilang [isang] team, at kitang-kita ‘yun sa improvement ng performance namin ngayon.”

Ramos believes that their new training regimen has directed the team to one unified goal. According to the key spiker, the team owes their success to the support of their coaching staff and the Mapúan community, as well as the everyone in the team’s individual improvements and hunger to be better.

Wrapping the first half of their centennial campaign on a high note, the MU MVT shows no intention in letting their momentum slip. According to Ramos, the team constantly reviews games, examining thoroughly which aspects of their play could have been lacking and how to improve further in preparation for the second set of games.

“Pinapalakas rin namin ang conditioning para mas tumagal kami sa laro. Mas matinding focus at effort ang kailangan, lalo na’t papalapit na ang crucial games,”

Expressing gratitude for the support the team has received, Ramos remarked, “To the Mapúa community, thank you so much for your continuous support. Every cheer, every message, and every presence in the stands fuels our drive to win. Please continue believing in us. We’ll keep fighting, not just for ourselves, but for the pride of Mapúa.”

The MU MVT is set to compete in the round two eliminations tomorrow, April 23, set to run until May 28 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre, to continue their undefeated run in the NCAA Season 100. The games will be livestreamed on the official social media handles of GMA Sports PH and NCAA Philippines.