San Sebastian crushed Jose Rizal, 25-15, 25-10, 25-23, yesterday to extend its unbeaten run to six in the women’s division of the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
Reigning MVP Grethcel Soltones dropped a match-best 17-hit barrage to power the Lady Stags to their sixth win in row, or three games away from sweeping their way to the best-of-three finals.
The power-hitting Soltones scored most of her points in the first two sets when San Sebastian manhandled San Sebastian and was replaced early in the third and final set to allow the second stringers to finish off Jose Rizal.
Nikka Mariel Dalisay stepped up big to provide Soltones the needed back and scattered 12 points.
San Sebastian will take on Perpetual Help on Jan. 11 next year, Lyceum of the Phl U on Jan. 23 and defending champion St. Benilde on Jan. 25 eyeing nothing less than a sweep that will catapult it to the finals and reduce the Final Four into a stepladder semis.
There, the Nos. 3 and 4 teams battle in a knockout duel with the winner taking on the No. 2 squad, which will enjoy a twice-to-beat edge, for the right to meet the sweeper in the championship phase.
San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb, however, is not looking that far ahead.
“We’re taking it a game at a time,” said Gorayeb.
Jose Rizal fell to 2-4 (win-loss).
Earlier, defending champion St. Benilde survived Emilio Aguinaldo, 25-10, 18-25, 25-7, 25-23, to zoom to solo second spot with a 4-1 record.
The Lady Generals slid to their sixth straight setback.
In men’s play, St. Benilde outlasted EAC, 25-18, 25-17, 20-25, 25-13, to grab a share of the lead with San Beda on 5-1 marks.
San Sebastian downed Jose Rizal, 21-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-23, to keep its Final Four big afloat with a 3-3 card.
EAC absorbed its sixth straight defeat while Jose Rizal slipped to 1-5.