San Beda Lady Red Spikers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It was a loss to remember for San Beda, but not for the negative reasons.
The Lady Red Spikers suffered a five-set loss to defending champion Arellano University in the title round of the NCAA Season 93 women’s volleyball tournament, 25-15, 25-16, 15-25, 22-25, 15-6, but captain Cesca Raqraquin said the setback shouldn’t be taken at face value.
It turned out to be a huge confidence-booster for Raqraquin and the Lady Red Spikers after they showed they can take the Lady Chiefs to the distance in Finals game 1 on Friday.
“This was a huge help in our confidence, even though we lost,” said Raqraquin. “We saw that we shouldn’t be scared of Arellano because we know we can dominate and we showed that in the third set and we were also able to contain them in then fourth”
“I told my teammates that they shouldn’t be afraid of Arellano, and told them to look at whoever is in front of them. ‘Look at them, would you allow yourself to be beaten? Would you let yourself be intimidated? Fight them.’”
San Beda lit up in the third set with a commanding 11-2 run to take a 21-12 lead off Nieza Viray’s through-the-block kill.
This sudden surge in the middle set gave the Lady Red Spikers the confidence boost they needed in the fourth set, but unfortunately the Lady Chiefs had them by the throat come the fifth period.
“I think we got really tired come the fifth set, and I also take the blame for it,” said Raqraquin, who had a game-high 21 points. “I was preparing myself for those hard serves but they [Lady Chiefs] would instead go for a short serve.”
Although San Beda ultimately fizzled in the fifth, Raqraquin said that it’s only the first game and they still have a chance to force a rubber match.
“We shouldn’t be saddened by this loss, it’s still not over,” said Raqraquin. “We still have a chance on the next games.”