Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Mapua University, crownless in their respective divisions for more than two decades, will go for the jugular when they face De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in separate Game 2s in the NCAA Season 101 women's and men's volleyball finals, respectively, on Wednesday.
The Cardinals men's squad play first, tackling the Blazing Spikers at 11 a.m. at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum while the Lady Knights aim to dethrone the reigning four-time champions, the Lady Blazers, in their 2:30 p.m. encounter.
Both Letran and Mapua are eager to put an end to their years-long title droughts.
The Lady Knights last captured a title 28 years ago, when current head coach Mayeth Carolino was still leading the squad as a player, powering Letran to back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998. Since then, the crown has remained elusive, with the team’s closest bids ending in runner-up finishes, most recently with back-to-back silver medal campaigns in Seasons 99 and 100.
They believe their time has come.
In Game 1 last Sunday, the Lady Knights staged a massive resistance against the five-peat seeking Benilde by carving out a grueling 17-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-14, 15-11 win behind Judiel Nitura, Vanessa Sarie, and Gia Maquilang.
Nitura did what she has done all season, delivering 21 points to lead the charge while Sarie and Maquilang chipped in 19 and 18 markers, respectively, as they drew first blood against Benilde.
It also marked the first time Benilde has dropped a Finals game during its four-season title run since Season 97. But the Lady Knights aren't giving any room for complacency, anticipating a massive bounce-back from the Lady Blazers come Game 2.
"Syempre same focus pa rin kaming lahat lalo sa training namin. Kailangan naming tibayan pa lalo at saka magtiwala sa isa’t-isa," Nitura said.
(Of course, we all have to keep the same focus especially in training. We need to be tougher and have faith in each other.)
Mapua is likewise aiming to halt a long title dry spell.
The Cardinals last brought the crown to Intramuros in 2002 and have struggled to replicate that success ever since. But in Season 101, Mapua is showing it can finally get the job done.
Mapua didn't have the best start after losing five of its first eight games. However, they turned things around, winning four of their last five matches to finish third in Group A. Pitted against the twice-to-beat San Beda in the quarterfinals, Mapua pulled off two wins to enter the Final Four, where they dethroned Arellano University in three games.
Against the top-seeded Benilde in the championship round, Mapua had another slow start before getting its act together en route to the four-set romp that put them a win away from their first title after 24 years.
"Reset lang ulit kami and stick lang kami sa sistema. Kailangan move on agad regardless kung panalo man or talo," Mapua head coach Aying Esteban said.
(We’re just going to reset and stick to the system. We need to move on quicly regardless if we win or lose.)
—JMB, GMA News
