Arellano, Benilde near ‘NC’ women volleyball finals

Arellano University shackled San Sebastian, 25-18, 25-19, 25-21, yesterday to move on the crest of a return trip to the finals in the women’s division of the 90th NCAA volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

College of St. Benilde stole some of the spotlight by stunning three-peat champion Perpetual Help, 26-24, 25-22, 25-18, to likewise come closer to a dream finals berth.

Jannine Navarro unleashed 17 hits in helping seal the win for the Lady Blazers.

Menchie Tubiera and CJ Rosario took turns in delivering the critical blows as they finished with identical 14 hits to power the Lady Chiefs to their first win in the semis, one win away from advancing to the best-of-three finals.

Offensively, Tubiera and Rosario were relentless, unloading a combined 23 spikes while forming Arellano’s impenetrable two-woman block party by combining for five, leaving Gretchel Soltones and the undersized San Sebastian attackers checked.

Arellano is eyeing its second trip to the finals since coming one set closer to winning it a season ago when it forced eventual champion Perpetual Help to a fifth set in the deciding Game Three before losing.

And it looked like the Lady Chiefs, who swept the elimination round in nine matches, are unstoppable.

Soltones, a Shakey’s V-League veteran, led all hitters with 15 but didn’t get enough firepower support that hastened the Lady Stags’ downfall.

Meanwhile, the league adjusted its finals schedule to give way for the Papal visit next week. After Game One on Jan. 14, Game Two was rescheduled from Jan. 16 to Jan. 21.