THE Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners and the La Salle-Dasmari?as Lady Patriots repulsed Rizal Technological University on two fronts to zero in on the men?s and women?s titles, respectively, of the 16th National Capital Region Athletic Association volleyball tournament.

The Mariners weathered the RTU Blue Thunders final rally in the third set to pull off a 25-21, 25-17, 27-25 triumph in their 58-minute contest in Game 1 of the men?s division finals.

The Lady Patriots got big points from Jennifer Manzano as they waylaid the RTU Lady Thunders, 25-23, 27-25, 25-22, in the opener of the women?s best-of-three championship series.

This moved the Mariners and the Lady Patriots one win away from clinching the men?s and women?s titles of this varsity spikefest backed by Mikasa and Molten Balls, and www.philspike.com.

The Blue Thunders? refused to fold after the Mariners were about to clinch the final point in the third set following a 24-20 lead. They rallied and caught up by a point, 24-25, before the Mariners took the last three points on the frontline plays of Arvie Costa, Ni?o Papa and Ian Lambusao. Peter Atencio