Against a team that was coming off a statement victory, titleholder Arellano knew it needed a lapse-free performance to bounce back from its first loss in the 95th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament.
The Lady Chiefs did not quite meet the standard they set out, but they produced enough to hammer out a 25-14, 26-28, 25-19, 25-16 victory over the Letran Lady Knights at Filoil Flying V Centre that pushed them closer to a semifinal appearance.
“We won,” said coach Obet Javier of Arellano, “but we still had a lot of lapses.”
And, luckily, firepower.
Regine Arocha came through with 19 points, including three service aces, while reigning MVP Necole Ebuen and Carla Donato added 13 and 12 points, respectively for the Lady Chiefs, who ran into a stubborn foe that hardly seemed intimidated by the reigning three-time champions.
In the second set, Letran raced to a 24-19 lead before Arellano swallowed that cushion whole to forge a deadlock at 24. But instead of wilting, the Lady Knights gamely jousted with the Lady Chiefs to level the match at one set apiece.
Arellano’s depth and talent, however, were enough to pull the Lady Chiefs to safer waters on the way to their sixth win in seven matches.
Letran dropped to 3-3 and fell behind San Beda (4-2) in what should be a frantic footrace for the fourth semifinal berth.
Chamberlaine Cuñada, who was coming off a 28-point performance in a gutsy five-set win over Lyceum last week, finished with 16 this time for Letran. Julienne Castro contributed 10 points and 10 digs for the Lady Knights.