Lady Chiefs take game 1, negate Lady Stags’ thrice-to-beat edge

Arellano Lady Chiefs. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Arellano University stunned San Sebastian College, 25-18, 25-20, 25-16, to take the first game of the NCAA Season 92 women’s volleyball Finals Tuesday at San Juan Arena.

The Lady Chiefs, though, still need to win two more games to clinch the title as the Lady Stags have a thrice-to-beat advantage courtesy of their 9-0 record in the eliminations.

San Sebastian substitute Denice Lim, who only saw action in the third set, committed the error that gave the Lady Chiefs the win, making the championship round a best-of-three series.

“I told my team to play each game as champions, I told them to give it everything they’ve got,” said coach Obet Javier, who steered the Lady Chiefs to the title in Season 90.

Javier added the Lady Chiefs put an extra effort on their blocking so as to deter San Sebastian’s Grethcel Soltones from establishing a rhythm.

Arellano scored on three of its blocks, which may seem a small number by itself but played a vital part in the Lady Chiefs’ victory as the Lady Stags failed to register a single point on their block attempts.

San Sebastian also gave Arellano 30 free points due to errors.

Regine Arrocha led the Lady Chiefs with 14 points while Mary Esguerra and Andrea Marzan had 10 points apiece.

Soltones never did establish any offensive flow as she finished with 15 points on 45 attempts.