Lady Stags rip Blazers, sweep way to NC volley finals

MANILA, Philippines – Gretchel Soltones dished out an MVP-like performance as San Sebastian College downed St. Benilde, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, yesterday to sweep its way to the finals of the 91st NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at The San Juan Arena.

The power-hitting Soltones unloaded a match-best 32 hits, including 24 on kills, while ramming in six aces and finishing with two blocks for the Lady Stags, who swept the one-round elims among 10 teams and headed straight to the finals with a big 1-0 headstart in the best-of-five series.

Defending champion Arellano U (8-1), Perpetual Help (7-2) and St. Benilde (6-3) will dispute the other finals seat in a grueling stepladder semis.

“We just want to make history and make the school proud,” said San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb.

Earlier, Perpetual Help routed Letran, 25-12, 25-23, 25-21, for a 7-2 slate.

In men’s play, Perpetual Help overpowered Letran, 25-15, 25-22, 25-18, to seal a twice-to-beat edge in the semifinals.

Team captain Bonjomar Castel and Rey Taneo Jr. combined for 22 hits as the Altas nailed their eighth victory in nine outings for a share of the top spot with the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, the reigning champions, at 8-1.

The Las Piñas-based school and EAC will clash in a playoff tomorrow. The winner will take on the No. 4 seed, which will be contested by the San Beda Lions and Arellano U Chiefs in a knockout duel after the two ended with identical 5-4 slates.

The loser settles for the No. 2 seeding and will face St. Benilde, which is assured of the No. 3 ranking regardless of the result of its last elims game against San Sebastian.

Perpetual Help coach Sammy Acaylar said they’re looking forward to avenging their 20-25, 22-25, 17-25 defeat to EAC, which spoiled its bid of sweeping the one-round elimination and clinching an outright finals berth.

Reigning juniors titlist Perpetual Help flattened Letran, 25-14, 25-14, 25-21, to likewise arrange a playoff for the No. 1 seeding versus EAC after the two ended up tied at No. 1 on 6-1 marks.

Ivan Encila unloaded 13 hits, 12 of them on spikes, while Conrad Ryuji Etorma and team captain Jody Margaux Pascual scattered 11 and 10 hits, respectively, for the Junior Altas.

The winner of the Perpetual-EAC playoff will face either Lyceum of the Philippines U or  San Sebastian while the loser will clash with No. 3 Arellano U in the Final Four.