Arellano coach braces for ‘tough’ stretch vs contenders

Arellano coach Obet Javier. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Arellano University head coach Obet Javier is bracing for a gauntlet of games to end the elimination round.

The Lady Chiefs are gunning for their third title in four years and Javier knows achieving the feat won’t be easy.

Up ahead in the latter part of their schedule are four of the top five teams last season—San Sebastian, San Beda, College of St. Benilde, and University of Perpetual Help.

“These are four tough teams so we know that we have to prepare well for them,” said Javier in Filipino Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

In what served as a tune-up match for Arellano before its tough stretch, the Lady Chiefs dominated the Lyceum Lady Pirates in three sets, 25-16, 25-17, 25-11, to extend their perfect run to 5-0.

READ: Arellano blasts Lyceum for 5th straight win

But Javier added that for Arellano to sweep its remaining games, it has to play even better than how it performed against the Lyceum.

“We’re still starting slow and that’s not a good sign for any team especially if you’re playing against these next ones,” said Javier. “We have to show them, or show ourselves at least, that we can immediately get it going.”