Déjà vu for the Lady Stags
Just like they had a year ago, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags stumbled to start the NCAA Season 92 Finals, falling to the Arellano University Lady Chiefs, 25-18, 25-20, 25-16, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Chiefs dominated the Lady Stags on all fronts — serving hard to dislodge San Sebastian’s offense. Each set saw the Lady Stags trip into double-digit gaps, sue for a late comeback, then get stopped by their own errors.
Three Lady Chiefs scored in double-digits with Final Four heroine Regine Arocha dishing out 14 points, and middle blockers Andrea Marzan and Mary Anne Esguerra each providing 10 markers.
“Lumabas practice namin kahapon, nag-concentrate kami sa blocking,” said Arellano head coach Obet Javier. “Ilaro nila dapat nila ilaro, wag isipin 3-0, na dapat three times talunin. One game at a time lang kami dapat.”
The Lady Chiefs turned the series into a virtual best-of-three with Game Two on Friday at 4 pm. The Lady Chiefs are aiming for their second title in three years. Their first came at the expense of the Lady Stags.
“Ano pa rin eh, best-of-three ito. Hindi natin masabi pero pipilitin namin na manalo uli,” Javier said.
Reigning two-time MVP Grethcel Soltones provided 15 points on 15-for-45 attacking. She was the only Lady Stag who broke double-digits.
The Scores
AU (3) – Arocha 14, Esguerra 10, Marzan 10, Prado 6, Sante 5, Flores 0, Ramirez 0, Sanchez 0, Ibisa (L), Galang (L)
SSC-R (0) – Soltones 15, Dalisay 7, Encarnacion 3, Sta. Rita 3, Villegas 3, Santos 2, Guillema 1, Lim 0, Oliveros 0, Eroa (L)
