The Arellano Baby Chiefs completed a championship-clinching reverse sweep over the Junior Lady Altas, 21-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-11, 15-4, to capture the NCAA Season 100 Girlsâ Volleyball Fiesta title in a stunning fashion on Sunday, June 1, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
After dominating Game 1 with a four-sets win, the Baby Chiefs barged into the throne by surviving a grueling five-set battle in Game 2, sweeping the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta to clinch their first-ever crown.
Arellano struggled early as Perpetual found their rhythm in the first two sets, putting the Baby Chiefs on the brink. But the blue-silver-red squad came alive in Set 3, storming back with a commanding nine-point finish, led by outside spiker Samantha Maranan, who sparked the teamâs revival and kept their championship hopes afloat.
Maranan and Christine Chu continued their clutch play in the fourth, delivering crucial attacks down the line. Maranan capped the set at 24-11 with a well-timed free ball kill, forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.
In the decider, Coach Obet Javierâs squad showed no signs of slowing down. With full firepower and a lifted spirit, the Baby Chiefs surged ahead and never looked back. A soft tip block sealed the final point, completing the comeback and handing the Junior Lady Altas a stunning upset to end the NCAA Fiesta Volleyball Girlsâ Division Finals.
Samantha Maranan, one of the key players in Coach Obet Javierâs rotation, shared the final reminder their coaches gave heading into the fifth set: âTapusin na po namin, nakauna naman na po kami. Wala po kami dapat ikabahala kung manalo man kami o matalo. Ang sinasabi po nila sa amin, âIbigay niyo na yung best niyo para wala na kayong pagsisihan sa huli.â At naging worth it naman po âyon,â she said.
After finishing as runners-up last season, the Arellano Baby Chiefs finally secured their first-ever NCAA Juniors Fiesta Volleyball championshipâright in the leagueâs historic centennial season.
- Carl Stephen I. San Juan
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