Games Friday:
(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
1 p.m. – UE vs Perpetual
3:30 p.m. – San Beda vs Arellano
6 p.m. – NU vs Ateneo

MANILA — Arellano University barely broke a sweat in a commanding 25-17, 25-16, 25-12 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Sunday (29 Sept 2024) at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Chiefs needed just one hour and 26 minutes to dispatch the Lady Generals, joining Ateneo de Manila University as Pool A debut winners.

Arellano dominated with 43 attacks and capitalized on EAC’s 25 errors in the tournament supported by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R&B Milk Tea, and Summit Water.

Laika Tudlasan spearheaded Arellano’s balanced attack with 10 points, while Kacelyn Punzalan and Mauie Magaling contributed eight and six points, respectively.

“We’re grateful because the preparation we’ve put in for months is finally being put to the test,” said Tudlasan, who registered nine kills.

The Lady Chiefs pulled away early in the third set, building a commanding 15-4 lead that grew to 24-11 after a block hit by Pauline De Guzman.

“The team’s communication and energy were great. It felt light because we trust each other,” Tudlasan added.

EAC kept the game competitive early in the first two sets before Arellano’s powerful offense proved too much to handle.

No Lady General reached double digits in scoring, with Erica Bodonal leading EAC with six points and Cara Dayanan adding five. EAC managed only 19 attack points.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University staged an impressive comeback to defeat San Beda University in a five-set thriller, 22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-7, in Pool A late Saturday.

Veteran Lyann De Guzman led the Blue Eagles with 17 points, including 14 kills, two aces, and a block. De Guzman sparked Ateneo’s resurgence in the third and fourth sets, while Jennifer Santos and Geezel Tsunashima sealed the victory in the final frame.

Santos tallied three of her 12 points in the deciding set, while Tsunashima added four of her 11 to complete the comeback. Ateneo will face defending champions National University in their next match on Friday.

For San Beda, Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar scored 14 and 10 points, respectively.

In another Saturday result, Lyceum of the Philippines University bounced back from an opening day loss to outlast Mapua University, 25-9, 19-25, 20-25, 26-24, 15-12, in Pool B. Johna Dolorito, Joan Doguna, Hiromi Osada, and Janeth Tulang combined for 11 points in the fifth set to help secure Lyceum’s first win after a four-set loss to UE on Friday.

Dolorito led the charge with 20 points, 17 of them coming from attacks, while Osada and Doguna each scored 12, and Tulang added 11.

Alyanna Ong had 21 points, and Raissa Ricablanca added 11 for Mapua, which squandered a 2-1 match lead.