BY ABBY TORALBA
SEEKING to return to the Promised Land anew, reigning three-time champion Arellano University tries to burst College of Saint Benilde’s bubble of invincibility when they clash today in Game 1 of their best-of-3 battle for the 97th NCAA women’s volleyball crown at The Arena in San Juan.
The match is set at 2 p.m., with the winner getting a chance to wrap up the race-to-2 series on Friday at the same venue.
A no-tomorrow Game 3, if necessary, will be on Sunday also at the San Juan-based arena.
Lady Chiefs coach Obet Javier admitted her belles have to bring their A-Game against the Lady Blazers, who are unscathed in nine games, including an elimination-round sweep.
“Siyempre ibang usapan ang finals, so gagawa’t gagawa kami ng paraan para kumbaga makuha namin iyong pang-apat (na titulo),” Javier said.
“Alam namin na dadaan kami sa butas so sabi ko nga challenge ito. So, kung chinallenge ka, tanggapin mo, lagpasan mo,” he added.
The Legarda-based squad booked its fourth straight finals stint last Sunday after ousting Jose Rizal University 19-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-17.
Arellano will bank on team captain Carla Donato, open hitters Princess Bello, Charmina Dino, Pauline De Guzman, opposite spiker Nicole Sasuman, middle blocker Trina Abay and setter KC Adante.
CSB is out to bring back the crown in Taft for the first time since 2016
“Practice pa rin, simulate and iyong game speed kasi iyon lang naman iyong mawawala.
Iyon ang kailangan natin hanapin for practices,” Lady Blazers tactician Jerry Yee said.
“Iyon pa rin naman iyong work. Iyon naman iyong goal ever since so kung may pressure dapat day one pa lang may pressure na ‘di ba kasi iyan iyong gusto natin and then nandito na, wala namang nagbago, parating na, so same lang. Kung ano iyong kailangan i-work, we have to put into things, iyon iyong gagawin natin,” he added.
In their last match in the elims, CSB humbled the Lady Chiefs 25-15, 25-15, 25-14.
Foremost among those expected to lead the Lady Blazers are open spikers Jade Gentapa and Mycah Go, setter Cloanne Mondonedo, opposite hitter Gayle Pascual, and middle blocker Michelle Gamit.
