Perpetual tests EAC in NCAA volley Final Four

MANILA, Philippines—Undefeated Perpetual Help braces for a tough duel against Emilio Aguinaldo College when the Final Four of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament rolls off at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The Lady Altas needed five sets to dispose of the Lady Generals in the elimination round and Perpetual coach Mike Rafael expects another dogfight in the 10 a.m. clash.

“We can’t be complacent in the semifinals because all of the teams want to beat us,” Rafael said in Filipino.

The Lady Generals actually pose the biggest threat to the Lady Altas, who narrowly won their Dec. 10 match, 28-26, 25-17, 16-25, 22-25, 15-12.

In the other semifinals match, defending champion San Sebastian faces Letran at 3 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s finals.

The Lady Stags are rebuilding with only a few players returning from last year’s successful title run. But the wards of coach Roger Gorayeb had enough firepower to barge into the semifinals with a 6-3 card similar to Letran and EAC.

Gorayeb, who steered the SSC to the title the past six years, is actually hoping to continue his run of Top 2 finishes since the mid 1980s.