The Perpetual Lady Altas once again showed why they sit atop NCAA Season 101 Group A, turning an early stumble into a statement victory with a four-set win over the LPU Lady Pirates on Wednesday at the San Andres Sports Complex.
After absorbing a 25-19 opening-set loss, Perpetual flipped the script with poise and precision, stringing together dominant stretches to close out a 19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-16 decision that further tightened its grip on the group lead.
The Lady Altas’ response was swift and ruthless. Cleaner ball distribution, steadier floor defense, and a sharper attack quickly erased the first-set wobble, allowing the Las Piñas-based squad to dictate tempo in the next two frames. What began as a test of composure soon turned into a showcase of depth and discipline.
Jem Menor sparked the decisive fourth set, repeatedly breaking through from the left side to fuel a commanding 14-6 surge. A late scare followed when Menor injured her right arm on a diving save and had to be helped off the court, briefly halting Perpetual’s momentum.
Unfazed, the Lady Altas leaned on their bench. Liz Villanueva stepped in and delivered instant offense with back-to-back kills, pushing the lead to match point and restoring calm. Moments later, Cyrille Almeniana slammed the door with a block that sealed Perpetual’s second straight win since its lone setback this season.
Almeniana led the way with a 20-point outing built on 17 attacks and three blocks, while Menor finished with 16 points to go with 12 excellent receptions. Setter Fianne Ariola orchestrated the offense efficiently, tallying 19 excellent sets while adding five points of her own.
For LPU, Shiela Pascual and Johna Dolorito paced the scoring with 13 points apiece, while Ashley Muchillas added 12, but the Lady Pirates could not sustain the aggression they displayed in the opening set. The loss dropped them to 3-5 and extended their skid to two matches.
With a 7-1 record and growing separation from the pack, Perpetual continues to look every bit the team to beat in Group A—calm under pressure, deep on the bench, and increasingly difficult to slow once it finds its rhythm.