CSB Lady Blazers survive Lady Pirates’ fierce challenge in 5 sets
Games Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
7:30 a.m. — Mapua vs San Beda (men)
10 a.m. — Mapua vs San Beda (women)
2 p.m. — AU vs JRU (women)
5 p.m. — AU vs JRU (men)
COLLEGE of St. Benilde (CSB) and the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD)carved out a pair of elimination round sweeps to barge straight to the NCAA Season 99 volleyball finals at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
The Lady Blazers survived a fierce challenge from familiar rivals Lyceum of the Philippines University’s (LPU) Lady Pirates and escaped with a 21-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 15-7 victory, their ninth consecutive, that catapulted the former to their third finals appearance in a row.
The Altas, for their part, bested the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23, to pull off a nine-game sweep of the men’s side and also advance to the finals set May 19.
It was also CSB’s 38th straight victory that included a pair of 11-game title sweeps the past two years.
The Lady Blazers have a chance for another one as they go for a three-peat sweep feat.
But they almost blew this one up after trailing by a set twice before coming through in the fourth and fifth set in weathering the LPU storm and preserving the magnificent run of triumphs.
“That has been what we were worried about, we’re preparing for complacency,” said CSB coach Jerry Yee.
For UPHSD, it was its fifth straight elimination round sweep that resulted in three championships.
It could have been four when it swept in the 2020 elims before COVID-19 cut short the season and denied the Las Pinas-based school one crown.
The Altas though will have a chance to win a fourth straight title.
LPU fell to 6-3 while EAC slipped to 8-1. — Joey Villar