NCAA volleyball: Shock loss to Arellano fire up San Beda

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Coming off a deflating loss in a showdown with Arellano University four days ago, San Beda redeemed itself with a big win over Final Four contender San Sebastian on Tuesday.

Last Friday’s duel between San Beda and Arellano was one of the few matches in the NCAA Season 93 women’s volleyball tournament that had some kind of anticipation to it with both teams staking an undefeated record in a potential finals matchup.

But it didn’t even come close to living up to the hype with the Lady Red Spikers failing to put up a fight as the Lady Chiefs cruised to a 25-17, 25-10, 25-17, win.

READ: NCAA volleyball: Arellano shuts down San Beda to earn semis berth

But the loss, though, painful, was put to good use in another crucial tiff.

“[The loss] served as our motivation because we needed to bounce back from that,” said San Beda coach Nemesio Gavino after his team’s 25-14, 25-22, 22-25, 25-18 victory over the Lady Stags.

“[The win] boosted our morale,” he said.

In stark contrast to the Arellano game, where San Beda was a step slow to the defending champion, the Lady Red Spikers, this time, played sharp.

And it was one of the things Gavino noticed.

READ: NCAA volleyball: Arellano thinks fatigue big factor in San Beda’s downfall

“The girls moved really quick unlike against Arellano when they were sluggish and soft. I also saw their willingness to win today.”

Also back to her old self was San Beda’s star spiker Cesca Raqraquin, who pumped in a game-high 20 points, including three of her team’s points during a 7-0 run that ended the match.

Raqraquin’s performance atoned for her subpar play against the Lady Chiefs, who held her to measly six points.