BY ABBY TORALBA
EAGER to keep its four-peat bid alive, Arellano University hammered a 19-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-17 victory yesterday over gritty Jose Rizal University in their stepladder semifinals duel and clinched a finals slot in the 97th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Open hitter Pauline De Guzman shone for the defending champions with 19 points, while middle blocker Trina Abay added 14 markers.
Team captain Carla Donato also had 13 points, opposite spiker Sasuman finished with 12 markers, and Charmina Dino 11 points and 16 digs for Arellano, which atoned for a 15-25, 15-25, 14-25 loss to College of St. Benilde last July 9.
Game 1 of the best-of-3 finals pitting the unbeaten Lady Blazers and the Lady Chiefs is set on Wednesday at the same venue.
The Lady Bombers knocked out third seed San Sebastian College 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9 last Saturday in the first phase of the stepladder semis.
“Noong nagtapat pa lang kami sa eliminations, sinabi ko na talagang… pinuri ko na talaga iyong players nila (JRU), talagang magaling talaga iyong player nila. Ngayon, iyong ipinakita nila sa amin, gustong-gusto talaga nilang manalo. Sa bandang huli, sinuwerte lang kami. Nagkaroon lang ng breaks of the game,” Arellano coach Obet Javier said.
“Para samin, iyong pagpasok namin (sa finals) magandang balik kumbaga paghandaan namin ngayon iyong Benilde kasi alam naman natin na Benilde’s a strong na team. Magandang challenge ito para sa amin,” he added.
After dropping the opening set, No. 2 Arellano unleashed an 8-0 start in the second frame to tie the match.
