REIGNING titlist Emilio Aguinaldo College and Perpetual Help try to arrange a title showdown as the two clash with San Beda and St. Benilde, respectively, today in the Final Four of the men’s division of the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Generals tackle the Lions, who clinched the fourth and last Final Four berth with a 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 win over the Arellano University Chiefs last Tuesday, at 12 noon, while the Altas face off with the Blazers at 2 p.m. needing just a victory to forge a best-of-three title showdown.
EAC clinched the top seeding by besting Perpetual Help, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19, and sending the latter to No. 2 and a tough duel with St. Benilde, last year’s losing finalist, which wound up with the No. 3 seed.
And the Generals are expected to again rely heavily on reigning Most Valuable Player Howard Mojica, who dropped 30 hits against Perpetual Help the last time out.
“He’s our source of strength,” said EAC coach Rodrigo Palmero.
In women’s action, defending champion Arellano University and St. Benilde collide in a knockout duel for the right to play San Sebastian College in the finals.
The Lady Blazers turned back the Lady Altas, 16-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-21, in the first stepladder semis Tuesday to live for another day.
San Sebastian clinched an outright finals seat after sweeping the elimination round with nine wins that also earned it a thrice-to-beat advantage, or a virtual 1-0 lead in a best-of-five series.
In juniors’ play, last year’s title-holder Perpetual Help and EAC take on San Sebastian and Arellano University, respectively, also needing just a triumph to seal a spot in the best-of-three championship.