SAN SEBASTIAN College – Recoletos (SSC-R) tries to put one foot in the Final Four while San Beda aims to breathe life to its own campaign as the two collide on Tuesday in the 97th NCAA volleyball tournament at the Paco Arena.
A win for the Lady Stags, currently at No. 3 with a 4-2 record, in their 12 p.m. duel with the Red Spikers would push them a step closer to claiming a spot to the semis alongside the pace-setting College of St. Benilde (CSB) Lady Blazers (7-0) and the Arellano University (AU) Lady Chiefs (6-1).
San Beda, which has a 2-4 mark, in contrast, is in dire need of sweeping its last three assignments for it to have a shot at claiming the fourth and last berth to the playoff phase.
SSC-R coach Roger Gorayeb said they need to show desire to make it that far especially after his team has just come from a disappointing 25-11, 25-22, 25-14 beating it received from an indestructible CSB side on Friday.
“We have to play with fire and fight through the challenges,” said Mr. Gorayeb, the most titled of all coaches in the league having owned all but two of his school’s 23 women’s titles in the first and oldest collegiate league in the land.
Reyann Cañete melted under CSB’s extreme pressure and was held to her season-low four points that sent her to second from the top in the best scoring list.
AU, meanwhile, will try to keep its place at No. 2 as it tackles Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) (2-5) at 2:30 p.m. — Joey Villar