Arellano University kept its quarterfinals bid alive with a statement straight set victory over College of Saint Benilde, 25-20, 25-22, 26-24, in the 2022 V-League Collegiate Challenge, Friday afternoon at Paco Arena.
The win forced a logjam at 1-3 in the race to the playoff spots among the Chiefs, the Blazers, and Adamson University, with the Chiefs taking the fourth place by virtue of match points.
The Chiefs squandered four match points at 24-20, but defense pulled them through resulting to a counterattack from Carl Berdal and a forced error on the Blazers' attack the next.
"Ang nangyari ngayon, yun nga, mas matagal yung preparation. Hindi katulad nung mga nauna naming games, talagang short yung preparation. Yung game ngayon, nag-prepare talaga kami kasi syempre kalaban sa NCAA. Thankful kami nakakuha kami ng panalo," Arellano head coach Sherwin Meneses commented on the breakthrough win.
Setter Adrian Villados was vital in this Chiefs victory with 11 excellent sets to go with three points on two attacks and one block.
Berdal ended with 17 points on 16 spikes and one block, while Clarence Guinto added 14 markers on 12 attacks, one block, and one ace.
Georgie Guani was the only CSB player in double digits at 13 points, all coming from attacks, as team captain Roniey Adviento was limited to nine markers on eight spikes and one service ace.
