Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Arellano University retained its title after sweeping San Beda, 25-13, 29-27, 25-15, in the NCAA Season 93 women’s volleyball Finals Monday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Regine Arocha, who was deservingly named Finals MVP, led a dominating performance by the Lady Chiefs, who won their third championship in the last four years.
“I’m so happy because our [volleyball] program is really flourishing. When I started, we were seventh place,” said Arellano head coach Obet Javier.
“We just really wanted to win,” said Arocha, who finished with 15 points and 12 digs, in Filipino. “I believed in myself and I also got motivation from my teammates.”
The game was in stark contrast to the finals opener on Friday where Arellano needed five sets to hold off a game San Beda side.
Arellano raced to an 8-0 start in the third set before widening the gap to 14-2 as the Lady Chiefs never looked back while the Lady Red Spikers looked resigned.
“We felt like they gave the game to us and just gave up in the third set. When we scored the first five points of the third set we already felt that the title is going to be ours,” Arocha admitted.
But the pivotal stretch of the duel came in the second set when Arellano rallied and saved four set points with Arocha scoring three of her team’s last four points, including back-to-back hits for a 2-0 set lead.
Jovielyn Prado, who was the Finals MVP last season, also had 15 points while Andrea Marzan and Mary Anne Esguerra scored eight and seven points, respectively in their final NCAA game.
Cesca Raqraquin led San Beda, which had nothing to be ashamed of after making its first-ever appearance in the championship round, with 13 points.