Lady Chiefs keep NCAA volley title

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Arellano University overwhelmed San Beda, 25-13, 29-27, 25-15, in Game 2 of their best-of-three Season 93 finals on Monday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan and retained its title in the NCAA women’ volleyball tournament.

Regine Arocha, named Finals Most Valuable Player, led the Lady Chiefs to their third crown in the last four years.

The game was in stark contrast to Friday’s Finals opener where Arellano needed five sets to hold off San Beda.

Arellano raced to an 8-0 start in the third set before widening the gap to 14-2 on the way to the big victory.

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 for a 2-0 set lead.

In the men’s division, Perpetual Help regrouped after a third-set meltdown to beat Arellano, 26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16, and extend their duel to a deciding Game 3 this Thursday.

Altas coach Sammy Acaylar said his team’s meltdown was all “psychological” as his players tend to let their guards down when in the lead.

“We relax big time whenever we take a huge lead,” Acaylar said in Filipino. “But that’s not to take anything away from Arellano. Arellano plays with heart.”

The Altas, who weathered the Chiefs’ rally in the first set, restored order in the fourth behind senior setter Warren Catipay and hard hitters led by rookie MVP Joebert Almodiel.

Catipay dished out 40 excellent sets while Almodiel finished with 13 points. Ridzuan Muhali led Perpetual with 15.