By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Tomorrow
(The Arena, San Juan City)
8 a.m. – San Sebastian vs Lyceum (J)
9:30 a.m. – San Sebastian vs Lyceum (M)
11 a.m. – San Sebastian vs Lyceum (W)
12:30 p.m. – Mapua vs JRU (W)
2 p.m. – Mapua vs JRU (M)
What was expected to be a tight match turned into a mismatch yesterday as defending champion Arellano walloped San Beda, 25-17, 25-10, 25-17, to clinch the first Final Four ticket in the 93rd NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
In what could be a sneak peek of this year’s finals, the Lady Chiefs’ solid defense proved a tough nut to crack as they notched their seventh straight win and 19th overall dating back to last season.
With a pair of relatively light matches – College of St. Benilde on Monday and San Sebastian College on February 1 – ahead, Arellano is on track to complete an elimination round sweep and earn an outright berth in the best-of-three finals.
“Mas maganda gising namin saka motivated ang team naming manalo kasi itong game sa Beda ang pinakamahalagang game sa eliminations. Dito masasabi kung sino makaka-sweep,” said Arellano head coach Obet Javier.
Top hitter Jovielyn Prado rammed in 17 points, built around 13 kills and four service aces, as she teamed up with Regin Arocha, who had 11 points, in leading Arellano’s offensive juggernaught over the outclassed San Beda side