Lady Chiefs, jr Altas bag NC volley titles

MANILA, Philippines - Arellano University toughened up in the third set and pulled off a pulsating 25-23, 25-19, 26-24 victory over San Sebastian to nail its first-ever women’s volleyball crown in the 90th NCAA tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Trailing 23-24 in the third set, the Lady Chiefs leaned on a Menchie Tubiera smash to draw level, pounced on SSC’s Gretchel Soltones mishit to seize control then watched Danna Henson uncoil a vicious kills to finish off the Recoletos-based spikers and complete a two-game sweep of their best-of-three series.

“This is a sweet, sweet victory for us and the school and also historic because this is our first title,” said Arellano coach Roberto Javier as his wards whooped it up at centercourt one year after falling short of their title bid against Perpetual Help.

The power-hitting Tubiera finished with a match-best 18 hits, including 16 on kills, and copped the coveted Finals MVP honors.

The match headed to a fourth set like it was in Wednesday’s series opener which Arellano won, 25-18, 25-15, 20-25, 25-19, as SSC snatched a 24-23 lead on a Jovielyn Prado service error.

But Tubiera and Henson took over and the Lady Chiefs cashed in on that Soltones wild hit to snatch the set, the match and the breakthrough championship they dedicated to the huge Arellano crowd led by its president Jose Cayco, athletic director Val Cayco and Management Committee representative Peter Cayco.

Earlier, Perpetual Help swept Lyceum with a 25-15, 25-23, 25-19 victory to pocket the juniors title, its seventh after the league-best 15 of San Sebastian.

Finals MVP Ricky Marcos delivered 13 hits for the Junior Altas, who took Game One, 25-19, 25-19, 25-11, while Jody Margaux Severo added 11 points.

“The team showed heart the whole season,” said Perpetual Help coach Sandy Rieta.

Over at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, San Beda routed Lyceum, 4-0, to complete a five-peat feat in football.

Jay Shaun Soberano opened up scoring on the 38th minute before Miguel Caindec added another goal and Jim Ashley Flores came through with a brace in the second half to cap the rout.