Arellano looks to forge title showdown against San Sebastian

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Arellano University needs just one victory against De La Salle-College of St. Benilde to advance to the Finals. Josh Albelda, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Arellano University will try to book its Finals ticket as it clashes with defending champion De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB) in the stepladder semifinals of the NCAA Season 92 women's volleyball tournament Friday at the Arena in San Juan.

Ensured of a twice-to-beat edge after finishing the eliminations as the second seed, Arellano needs just one victory against the Lady Blazers in their 3:30 p.m. match to advance to the Finals.

A victory for Arellano will put it in a championship showdown against unbeaten San Sebastian College. The Lady Stags clinched an outright Finals berth after sweeping the eliminations, and they also have a thrice-to-beat edge.

Arellano already holds one victory over CSB, having beaten the Lady Blazers 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 when they met in the elimination round last January 11.

• READ: CSB Lady Blazers use pop culture in their pep talks

Coach Obet Javier said the Lady Chiefs need to play better in order to pull off another win over the defending champions, however.

"We all know they beat us in the stepladder semifinals last year," Javier pointed out. "We need to really play harder to prevent it from happening again this year."

The Lady Blazers kept their title defense alive with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-15 over San Beda in the first phase of the stepladder semifinals.

Although it is facing a twice-to-beat disadvantage, CSB remains confident.

"We're in a familiar place," said CSB coach Macky Cariño, whose players came all the way back from the fourth seed to win their first ever title last season. "I'm optimistic we can come through."

In men's play, defending champion University of Perpetual Help and CSB start their best-of-three title duel as the two face off at 1:30 p.m.

Both games will be telecast live on ABS CBN's Sports and Action Channel 23.

In juniors action, reigning titlist Perpetual Help and Emilio Aguinaldo College collide one final time at 10 a.m. with the winner arranging a finals match with Lyceum of the Philippines University, which swept the eliminations to barge into the finals.