The Arellano University Lady Chiefs slipped past the San Beda College Lady Red Spikers in three sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-14, to gain a share of the second place in the standings, Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
It was a team effort for the Arellano spikers as four of their players reached double figures, led by outside hitter Jovielyn Prado with 14 points, 13 off attacks.
The two teams battled in the first two sets as they both exhibited their persistent defense. However, it was the net defense of the taller Arellano ladies that shone brighter and frustrated the Red Spikers.
Andrea Marzan led the Chiefs in this department with three of the squad’s eight rejections.
The third set started with back-to-back points from the Mendiola pack, but errors slowly doomed them, and it all went south from there.
Cesca Racraquin roared to another double-digit output, with 14 points in a losing effort for San Beda.
Despite the win, Arellano head coach Obet Javier still expects more from the Lady Chiefs.
“Yung hinahanap ko sa kanila, hindi ko pa nakikita. Yung performance namin sa Baguio, malayo. Siguro kulang pa sa jell yung team ko. Tapos, kulang pa sa saya eh, nape-pressure pa. Siguro kung ma-overcome nila yun, siguro mas maganda pa yung laro,” he said.
The Lady Chiefs (4-1) look to solidify their second spot when they face the inconsistent JRU Lady Bombers (2-2) when eliminations resume on January 4 next year. The Lady Red Spikers (3-2), on the other hand, will battle against winless rivals Letran Lady Knights (0-5) to end the year on Wednesday, December 14.
The Scores:
AU (3) – Prado 14, Esguerra 11, Sante 10, Marzan 10, Arocha 6, Ramirez 2, Flores 1, Calixto 0, Tan 0, Sanchez 0, Gorre 0, Galang L, Ibisa L.
SBC (0) – C. Racraquin 14, N. Viray 7, Espiritu 5, Cuevas 4, Amador 3, J.Viray 3, Domingo 1, Manuel 1, D. Racraquin L, Zamudio L.
