BY ABBY TORALBA
LYCEUM battles Letran today in a do-or-die match for the last finals berth in the 99th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The match is set at 2 p.m., with the winner reaching the Big Dance opposite reigning two-time champion College of St. Benilde.
The Lady Pirates climbed to the next stage of the stepladder semifinals after sending the Arellano University Lady Chiefs home via a 25-17, 24-26, 25-20, 25-19 win last Sunday.
“Actually, naka-plano na rin naman kami kaagad. Going to iyong second game namin dito sa stepladder, tingin ko iyong mga bata naman prepared naman kasi like na-experience na namin ito, kumbaga pamilyar sila sa territory na inaakyat namin going to finals kaya malaking bagay sa amin na galing kami doon last year,” Lyceum coach Cromwell Garcia said.
“I think nasa mga bata na mismo. Sabi ko nga kung mayoon pa silang kayang ilabas, ilabas na nila. Kung ano pa iyong baon nila, ibigay na nila lahat,” he added.
Veteran Jaja Tulang along with Johna Dolorito, Joan Doguna, Heart Bio, Hiromi Osada and skipper Venice Puzon are expected to show the way for the Intramuros-based belles.
Letran, back in the semifinals after over a decade, is eyeing a first finals stint in 12 years.
The Lady Knights last made it to the finals in 2012 but fell short against the Perpetual Help Lady Altas.
