Colegio de San Juan de Letran ended Arellano University’s Final Four streak by outlasting the Lady Chiefs in five sets, 21-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10 on Saturday in the NCAA Season 98 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex.
This is the first time that the Chiefs won’t be in the semifinals of the NCAA women’s volleyball since Season 87, dating all the way back to 2011.
The Lady Knights ended their campaign with a 5-4 record, while the Lady Chiefs are now locked in for a fifth-place finish, currently with a 4-4 record.
“It’s a gift to my players, both those who are leaving and those who will stay. It’s a memory that they will carry forward,” said Letran’s head coach Michael Inoferio.
After exchanging victories in the first four sets, Letran finally found themselves in a comfortable six-point lead, 12-6, in the deciding period. From there, Nitura brought the Lady Knights to within match point after a cross-court kill.
Arellano, however, refused to lose as they scored three straight points, capitalizing on Letran’s error and Harem Ceballos’ attack, cutting the deficit to four, 10-14.
Unfortunately for them, that was the closest they could get as Nitura put a stop to it with a powerful strike, ending Arellano’s 11-year Final Four campaign.
Cha Cunada led the Lady Knights with 15 points and 21 excellent digs. Nitura and Lea Tapang also had 15 points, while Natalie Estraller finished with nine markers and 19 excellent sets.
For Arellano, Marianne Padillon and Laika Tudlasan both finished with 15 markers, while Cherry Cuenca had 20 excellent digs and 17 excellent receptions.
Meanwhile, San Sebastian College-Recoletos ended their season with a sweep against San Beda University, 25-18, 25-21, 25-20.
The Lady Stags finished the tournament with a three-game winning streak for a 3-6 slate, while the Lady Red Spikers capped the season with a 1-8 record.
Kristine Dionisio led San Sebastian with 17 points and seven excellent receptions.
It was a competitive final set as the Lady Red Spikers refused to end their campaign with a loss. San Beda was able to cut San Sebastian’s lead to just a point after Katherine Santos’ service error, 19-20.
From there, the Lady Stags took over, scoring three straight points before San Beda stopped the bleeding with a block to be within three, 20-23. Unfortunately, that was the last as Dionisio and Christiana Marasigan’s back-to-back strikes finished the game.
Kathrine Santos also carried the scoring load with 13 points, while Jewelle Bermillo added 16 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
No one from San Beda finished in double figures. Trisha Paras led San Beda with eight points, while Cynna Castillo added seven.
