Arellano University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran have earned their place on the grand stage, just days after pulling off stunning upsets over higher-seeded foes in the NCAA Season 100 men’s volleyball tournament.
The Chiefs, who ousted second seed Mapua University, and Knights, who are coming off a stunner over top-seeded Benilde, will begin their best-of-three finals showdown on Sunday at 12 p.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre with glory and history both on the line for either school.
For one, Arellano has long been chasing that elusive breakthrough men's volleyball title after years of consistent Final Four runs.
The closest the Chiefs got to one was in 2018, when the school managed to take Game 1 of Season 93 finals against powerhouse Perpetual, but the next two games saw the Las Piñas crew gutting out victories to seal the deal and start what would turn out to be the ALTAs' four-peat milestone.
This time, the Chiefs are out to flip the script in their favor with veterans Adi Villados, Carl Berdal, Anfernee Curamen, AC Guinto, and Jiwen Sinuto anchoring the team.
The Knights, however, are also on a quest to make history.
It has been 16 long years since Letran last hoisted the men's volleyball crown after the Knights reigned supreme in Season 85 over rival San Beda in their own best-of-three duel.
Over the years, the Knights struggled to find their way back to the finals.
It took them more than a decade and a half to clinch a finals ticket anew, leaning on the duo of two-time best middle blocker Vince Himzon and seasoned spiker Bembem Bautista.
If history is any indication, Arellano has had Letran's as of late.
The Chiefs won both of their elimination round clashes with Letran, taking a 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21 win in Round 1 before pulling off a 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21 in their Round 2 rematch.
But for Villados, none of that will matter, emphasizing that both teams will be starting from scratch with the championship at stake.
"Hindi namin iniisip na first round at second round tinalo namin sila. Iba ‘to. Iba ‘tong finals na ‘to kasi dito mo makikita ‘yung test of character, kung gaano ka-experience ‘yung mga players at coaches," team captain Villados said.
"Against Letran po, siguro pagiigihan namin sa training and more on viewing kami kasi halos lahat ng teams ngayon ang lakas. Ang hirap makapasok sa finals."
Letran, meanwhile, is just savoring the moment as head coach Brian Esquibel stressed they will just have to outdo what they did in the semifinals when they stepped on the finals stage.
"Actually hindi naman pressure, ang nafi-feel namin ay confidence kasi tiwala kami sa team, gagawin nila ‘yung best nila," said Esquibel, the last coach to steer the Knights to a title back in 2009.
"Ngayong darating na finals, sinabi ko sa kanila na kung ano ‘yung ginawa natin sa semifinals, i-improve pa natin para makuha natin ‘yung inaasam na championship."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
