DEFENDING champion Arellano University ripped San Beda University, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23, on Tuesday to advance to the NCAA Season 94 women’s volleyball finals at the Arena in San Juan.
Regine Arocha recovered from a poor showing in the five-set loss to San Beda last week, leading Arellano with 17 points off 13 spikes, two service aces and two blocks.
Necole Ebuen, Carla Donato and Alyana Marie San Gregorio chipped in 11 points each for Arellano, which takes on either top seed College of Saint Benilde or No. 4 University of Perpetual Help.
The first match of the best-of-three finals is on on February.
Arellano earned its third straight finals appearance and fourth in the last five seasons.
"'Yung last game namin sa Beda talagang nagulat din kami kumabaga. After ng game namin nagkaroon talaga kami ng adjustment,” said Arellano head coach Obet Javier.
“Kung napansin n'yo nawala 'yung isang spiker namin (Princess Bello) so yun nga buti na lan naging maganda ang ginawa ng bago na si San Gregorio,” he added. “Kumbaga talagang pinagpaguran namin ito sa practice. Almost one week ang preparation namin para makabawi.”
“Simula talagang gusto namin talagang ma-sweep eh. Pero siguro talagang binigyan kami ng challenge ni God, na yun nga, nangyari nga ang Final Four,” Javier said. “So sinabi ko lang sa bata na kalimutan na yung elimination. Mas importante yung semis ngayon, yung Final Four nga. Sa awa ng Diyos, sa tulong ng Diyos, nakuha namin yung plano namin na manalo ngayong game.”
Nieza Viray led the way for San Beda with 17 points including 17 digs, while skipper Cesca Racraquin added 11 hits and six excellent receptions.
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