NCAA volleyball finals under way

MANILA, Philippines - Arellano University and San Sebastian clash for the women’s title while Emilio Aguinaldo College and College of St. Benilde dispute the men’s crown in today’s start of the 90th NCAA volleyball finals at The Arena in San Juan City.

Perpetual Help and Lyceum likewise slug it out for the juniors crown starting at 9 a.m. before the Lady Chiefs and Lady Stags face off at 12 noon.

The Blazers and the Generals collide at 2 p.m.

Game Two of their best-of-three series will be held Friday while a decider, if necessary, will be played Monday.

Arellano, which lost the crown to Perpetual Help last year, is the slight favorite over a San Sebastian side that bundled out fancied St. Benilde and Perpetual for the last finals berth.

Foiled the last time out, the Lady Chiefs vowed to go all the way this time.

“Our goal is to finally win the title this year. Hopefully, we can accomplish it,” said Arellano coach Obet Javier.

Despite their underdog tag, San Sebastian mentor Roger Gorayeb remains confident of their chances.

“We’re definitely the underdogs because we’re the smaller team,” said Gorayeb, out to reclaim the crown the school won three years ago, “We’ll just try to compensate for our lack of height with quickness.”

EAC got swept by four-peat titlist Perpetual Help last year while St. Benilde is in the finals for the first time in eight years.

“We’re thankful we have another chance at winning our first championship,” said EAC coach Rod Palmero.

The Junior Altas hope to ride on the momentum of their three-game semifinal sweep as they shoot for their first title since snatching a back-to-back four years ago while the Junior Pirates are seeking their first ever high school crown since joining the league three seasons ago.