Lady Altas nail 3rd straight NCAA volley crown

MANILA, Philippines — Perpetual Help retained the NCAA women’s volleyball crown for a third straight year after a taut 17-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-27, 15-16 triumph over Arellano, a fitting ending to such a tight series, on Thursday.

League’s most valuable player Honey Royse Tubino put on a performance worthy of the accolade as she finished with a career-best 35 points for the Lady Altas.

Tubino, who played her last game with Perpetual Help, was also adjudged the finals’ MVP as she masterfully powered her way past fatigue to carry the Lady Altas through to the end.

In the decisive set, the Zamboanga City-native scored four of Perpetual Help’s last eight unanswered points that sealed the victory to the delight of the spirited Altas crowd at the Arena in San Juan.

“I was already in the fourth set. But I kept on thinking that my team needs me, I reminded myself that I have a champion heart and that I won’t give up,” Tubino said after the match.

The Lady Altas showed that championship poise they were lacking in the game two rout of a loss, as they got over a 0-1 set deficit and never looked back from.

“I told them never mind the mistakes and the loss. I just reminded them to stay patient,” said head coach Sammy Acailar.

Even when Arellano snatched the fourth set to drag the match to a decider, something which could’ve easily frustrated any team, Perpetual Help came out with a renewed vigor to retain the title.

Norie Diaz, who is also on her last year with the squad, added 18 points, mostly in that pivotal second set win, to provide a solid back-up Tubino.

The Lady Chiefs missed the chance to score their first title since joining the league in 2009 as they just ran out of steam in the fifth set.

Menchie Tuberia finished with 16 points in a losing effort for Arellano, which was held scoreless the rest of the way after pulling in 6-7.