The Arellano Chiefs ended a seven-year finals drought by booking their ticket to the #NCAA100 Men’s Volleyball Finals, overpowering the Mapua Cardinals in straight sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-15, on June 6 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
After falling short for seven consecutive seasons, the Chiefs finally broke the curse and secured a long-awaited return to the championship stage with a convincing win in their do-or-die semifinals clash against Mapua.
Things weren’t easy for Arellano, who needed to defeat the Cardinals twice to advance. Under pressure, the Legarda-based squad proved they were built for the big stage—reverse-sweeping the series and punching their way back to the Finals.
In Game 1 on June 2, the Chiefs had a slow start, dropping the opening set. But they quickly found their rhythm and took control, winning the next three sets to force a rubber match.
Four days later, on June 6, Arellano carried that momentum into the decider. The Legarda-based squad immediately set the tone, racking up six blocks in the first set alone and holding off Mapua’s attacks.
In the second frame, they capitalized on Mapua’s unforced errors and built a commanding 10-point lead and made a 3-0 run led by the running attack hits by Anfernee Curamen to end the set, 25-15.
Pushing through the third set, the Chiefs kept control and pulled away from Mapua. At 24-15, a service error from the Cardinals ended the match—sending Arellano to the Finals for the first time since Season 93.
AC Guinto spearheaded the offense with 13 attacks and two blocks, as veteran setter Adrian Villados masterfully set the tempo with 20 excellent sets and a defensive boost of four blocks.
Fueled by this hard-fought triumph, the Arellano Chiefs enter the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Finals with their sights firmly set on championship gold. After breaking their seven-year drought, the team now gears up to face a formidable opponent, Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, as their last assignment to take home the crown.
- Carl Stephen I. San Juan
Comments