87th NCAA volleyball: San Beda stuns perennial women's titlist San Sebastian

San Beda ended its five-year losing skid against perennial women’s titlist San Sebastian as the Red Lionesses pulled off a 25-15, 25-19, 25-20 upset win against defending six-time champion Lady Stags Friday in the 87th NCAA volleyball tournament at the San Beda College Gym in Mendiola, Manila.

San Beda has not won a match against San Sebastian since fielding a women’s team in 2006. The Mendiola-based squad has lost seven-straight games against the Lady Stags. The Lady Stags, after dropping the first set, seemed to be headed to tie the match at one-set each after posting a 14-10 lead midway in the second frame. But the Lionesses, behind the hard-hitting Janine Marciano, regained the lead on their way to a 2-0 advantage. San Sebastian coach Roger Gorayeb chose to bench veteran spikers Melissa Mirasol and Elaine Cruz, and setter Bamcie Belen for some unknown reason. Joy Benito carried the fight for the Lady Stags as the two-time Most Valuable Player rallied San Sebastian back from a 0-8 deficit and tied the count at 12-all in the third frame. Unfortunately, that was the best effort San Sebastian could muster as San Beda unloaded seven unanswered points for a 19-12 lead and never looked back to post the league’s first big upset of the season. “Before this one, we have not won a single set (against San Sebastian). I feel relieved, I’m overwhelmed. Our hard training finally paid off and had good results," said San Beda coach Ryan Jeorge Sucaldito. “Ces (Molina), Mik (Marciano) and Cherry (Quizon) improved a lot and our new setter (Debbie Dultra) had a strong debut. They are slowly gaining confidence," he added. San Beda made it a double celebration after its men’s team escaped with a 25-18, 23-25, 25-10, 25-23 win over the Stags. The San Sebastian Staglets prevented a shutout as they waylaid the Red Cubs in the juniors match, 25-19, 25-22, 25-17. — JVP, GMA News