^

Sports

Arellano moves a win away from finals in NCAA women’s volleyball

Joey Villar - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Arellano University edged defending champion Perpetual Help, 17-25, 27-25, 29-27, 25-23, on Friday to move a step closer to booking a return trip to the finals in the 90th NCAA women's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Friday.

Power-hitting Danna Henson and Menchie Tubiera led their team with 17 and 16 points, respectively, while scoring key hits in the final three sets when the Lady Chiefs overhauled an opening set defeat and turned it into a win.

It was the second straight semis win for Arellano, which will need to beat College of St. Benilde (1-1) on Monday to advance to the best-of-three finals that was rescheduled from Jan. 14 to Jan. 21 due to the Papal visit.

The Lady Chiefs, who came a set from winning their first volleyball crown since joining the league before dropping a five-setter in the deciding Game Three to the Lady Altas last year, also kept their unbeaten streak at 11 including nine  in the elimination round.

Perpetual Help, which dropped a stinging 24-26, 22-25, 18-25 loss to St. Benilde Monday, fell to its second straight defeat and on the brink of being dethroned.

The Las Pinas-based Lady Spikers though still have a chance to make it to their fourth straight finals appearance if they could beat the San Sebastian Lady Stags and the Lady Blazers lose to the Lady Chiefs on Monday.

If it happens, Arellano advances to the best-of-three finals for the second straight year while Perpetual will end up in a three-way logjam for No. 2 with San Sebastian and St. Benilde on 1-2 records.

San Sebastian stayed on the hunt and made things a little complicated after it pulled the rug from under St. Benilde, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24.

The Lady Stags could advance themselves if they could pull the rug from under the Lady Chiefs in the final day of the semis.

"We need to always pray with urgency, show high intensity each game. If we will show that kind of attitude, we have a chance to win," said San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb in Filipino.

ARELLANO

ARELLANO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ST. BENILDE

DANNA HENSON AND MENCHIE TUBIERA

GAME THREE

JAN

LADY

LADY ALTAS

LADY CHIEFS

PERPETUAL HELP

SAN SEBASTIAN

  • Latest
  • Trending
Latest
Recommended
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with