BY ABBY TORALBA
ARELLANO boosted its playoff drive by beating Lyceum 25-22, 17-25, 25-21, 25-17 yesterday in the 2023 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 at The Arena in San Juan.
Laika Tudlasan had 19 points on 17 hits and two aces as the Lady Chiefs closed out their preliminary campaign in Pool B at 2-1 after a 25-16, 25-21, 25-21 win over San Beda in the opener.
Arellano’s lone loss was inflicted by Adamson 19-25, 17-25, 22-25, giving the team a big chance to advance to the next round pending the final Pool B matches that also feature Lyceum (1-1) and San Beda (0-2).
Ateneo stared its campaign under new coach Sergio Veloso on a high, sweeping Mapua University 25-23, 25-20, 35-33.
Lyann De Guzman led the Blue Eagles with 14 points, AC Miner and Sophia Buena had 11 markers each while Gena Hora fired 10 points in Pool D.
Tudlasan drew support from Marianne Padillion with 14 points while Donnalyn Paralejas dished out 22 excellent sets on top of four points.
“Sobrang halaga po ng laban namin na ito kasi kung natalo kami, baka mawalan po kami ng chance sa Top 2. Nanalo po kami at ngayon may pag-asang makapasok sa Top 2 at ma-extend pa ang laban namin sa Shakey’s,” said Paralejas.
Except for a second-set struggle, the Lady Chiefs kept the Lady Pirates at bay in the majority of the match highlighted by a resilient stand in the third set for a 2-1 lead.
Tudlasan anchored Arellano’s great comeback from a 12-17 deficit, riding on a 13-4 finishing kick punctuated by a thunderous hit off the block by Pauline De Guzman, who finished with seven points.
