MANILA, Philippines — The Arellano U Lady Chiefs won’t have much time to rest following their back-to-back title feats in the NCAA women’s volleyball as they will resume training in a week’s time to start their preparations for Season 94.
It has been that way for the Lady Chiefs since coach Obet Javier took over and enhanced the school’s volley program that produced three championships, including the last two, the latest they fashioned out via sweep over the San Beda Lady Red Spikers last Monday.
This early, they have trained their sights on a three-peat.
“We will not wait for Season 93 to end because we will resume practice a week from now. We also started preparing early last season and it worked for us,” said Javier.
With Javier at the helm, the Lady Chiefs turned from a whipping squad into a title contender with their last two victories hinting at more championships for the Legarda-based squad.
“I remember when I was appointed coach in 2011, I was tasked to help the team improve the program because we were seventh the year before I came,” said Javier. “Our championships are our way of showing to the school that this wouldn’t have happened without their unwavering support.”
But Javier admits it will be tougher and doubly challenging next season with one key player graduating and two others uncertain of their stints.
Jovielyn Prado has played her final year while Mary Anne Esquerra and Andrea Marzan are unsure whether or not they would return next season.
“It will be more challenging next season because we will lose several of our veteran players. Hopefully, we could convince one or two of them to stay and help us in our three-peat bid,” said Javier.
Regine Anne Arocha, the Finals MVP, also remains undecided although Javier is confident he could convince her to stay.
“She (Arocha) has two years left, she will stay,” said Javier of his ace spiker, who normed 14.5 points that netted her the Finals MVP plum.
Arocha shone the brightest in the second set of Game Two when she anchored the Lady Chiefs’ fightback from 7-13, 20-24 deficits to extend the match before delivering the frame’s final two points to help them steal the set and eventually the match and the crown via a 25-13, 29-27, 25-15 scoreline.
“We just kept on believing in ourselves that we can do it and we also showed we want to win the championship more,” said Arocha.