IT took way longer than expected but the defending champion Arellano Lady Chiefs managed to draw first blood in the opener of the NCAA Season 93 women’s volleyball Finals Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Arellano beat the San Beda Lady Red Spikers in five sets, 25-15, 25-16, 15-25, 22-25, 15-6 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three championship series.
The Lady Chiefs are looking to win their third title in four years against a team which is in the finals for the first time.
The Lady Chiefs seemed on the way to an easy romp after winning the first two sets easily. But San Beda coach Nemesio Gavino adjusted by turning to a smaller but quicker lineup which rolled to victory in the next two sets sending the match to a deciding fifth set.
The two teams battled to a 6-6 stalemate in the fifth set. The defending champions showed better composure as they rattled off a 9-0 run to win decisively.
In a long drawn out rally Arellano setter Sarah Verutiao sent the second ball over to a tired Lady Red Spikers side for the deciding point.
Arellano head coach Obet Javier said his team relaxed too early which allowed San Beda to catch up. They then displayed championship poise to win the deciding fifth set.
Regine Arocha led Arellano with 14 points while Jovielyn Prado added 13 markers.
Cesca Raqraquin led San Beda with 21 points.
Arellano thus inched closer to the second of back-to-back NCAA titles.
Game Two is tomorrow Monday and coach Javier doesn’t want his team to make the same mistakes again. He said the close call should serve as a lesson to his team not to take San Beda lightly.
The Legarda-based squad is gunning for its third title in four years after winning in Season 90 and 92.
