The buzzer sounded as the score struck 15, and the Baby Chiefs– consumed after a laborious five-set affair– burst into tears knowing they had dethroned Perpetual for their first-ever golden finish.
The Arellano Baby Chiefs took down the defending champions Perpetual Junior Lady Altas in Game 2 of their best-of-three championship series, 21-25, 15-25, 25-16, 25-11, 15-4, to seize the NCAA Season 100 Girls’ Volleyball Fiesta trophy on Sunday, June 1, at the Filoil Centre in San Juan City.
The win was a hard-fought one, as Arellano needed to climb back from a sluggish 0-2 start.
On the cusp of losing Game 2 to the reigning NCAA Volleyball Fiesta queens, the Baby Chiefs recalibrated their bearings in the third set and never looked back.
They turned the tide completely and never allowed Perpetual to inch closer in any of the last three frames, effectively preventing a winner-take-all Game 3.
In a brief interview with GMA Integrated News, team captain Sam Maranan said being down 0-2 prompted them to pour out everything and give their 100%, especially knowing they had Game 1 in the bag already.
“Ang reminder lang po sa amin is gawin namin yung best namin para wala kaming pagsisihan sa huli. Naka-una naman na po kami kaya ibibigay na po talaga namin lahat. Worth it lahat ng reminders nila, kaya ito kami ngayon– champions!” exclaimed Maranan.
As for champion coach Obet Javier– also the head coach of the women’s volleyball squad who’s figuring in their own Final Four bout on Tuesday– the support from the Arellano community is always pivotal.
“Wag sana silang mag-sawa sumuporta sa amin kasi lahat ng binibigay nilang tulong sa amin ay pilit naming ibibigay pabalik nang buong-buo,” Javier said.
Arellano’s championship in the girl’s volleyball fiesta event is their first in history, and a completion of their revenge tour against Perpetual who beat them in two games during the Season 99 fiesta games.
“First time po namin ito, worth it po lahat… Sobrang laking history, Season 100 siya!” Maranan said.
