After historic NCAA three-peat, Lady Chiefs want four and more

MANILA, Philippines — Way before the dust settled on championship night, three-peat holders Arellano Lady Chiefs refused to rest on their laurels and spoke about continuously improving and honing their craft.

The Lady Chiefs completed a comeback in their best-of-three series with the University of Perpetual Help Lady Altas in NCAA season 94 women’s volleyball Tuesday, deflating their foe in the last two games to write their own page of history.

It was also the fourth crown of AU in five seasons.

“Pilit naming panghahawakan kasi minsan lang dumating sa isang team ’yan. Hangga’t maaari, hindi namin pakakawalan. Patuloy pa rin after nito,” said Lady Chiefs coach Obet Javier.

“Hindi porke’t nag-three peat kami, hihinto kami. Patuloy kaming mag-aaral at mag-i-improve dapat para sa school para sa susunod na taon.”

Most Valuable Player Necole Ebuen wore a smile on her face – a stark contrast to her emotional self who failed to hold back tears during the post-match press conference in their 23-25, 25-9, 25-18, 22-25, 15-12, Game Two win.      

Lady Chiefs want four ...

She suffered a right ankle sprain in the fifth set in that match but shrugged it off and went on to lift the Lady Chiefs and force the deciding Game Three, which they eventually won, 22-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-18, her crosscourt hit putting them at match point before a sorry service error by Jenny Gaviola rewarded them with the crown.

UPHSD, eyeing a golden treble for all its volleyball squads, prevailed in Game One, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20, but failed to join its juniors and men’s teams at the podium after faltering in the last two matches.

“Masaya na po ako, eh,” gushed Ebuen, who clasped the medal that hung on her neck.

“Sobrang saya kasi nakabigay kami ng history sa school. Sabi namin, lahat ng pinaghirapan natin, makakamit makamit natin basta sama-sama lang tayo.”

The key was to prevent the Lady Altas from gaining momentum and deny them any hope of staging a comeback.

“Sabi namin sa sarili namin, ‘Binibigay na sa atin, ito na, kunin na natin.’ Noong nakalalamang na kami, tulad ng sabi ng coaches sa meeting, kapag nakita nyo nang nakadapa, ‘wag nyo nang patayuin pa. Tapakan nyo pa para hindi na makabangon pa,” said Regine Arocha, who received her second straight Finals MVP.

Hoisting the trophy for the third straight year now, the Lady Chiefs know what it was all for – the name they wore proudly in front of their jerseys – ARELLANO, their names, next.