Games April 11:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 noon – Perpetual vs San Beda (Men Finals)
2 p.m. – Benilde vs LPU (Women Finals)

LYCEUM of the Philippines University simply wanted more.

After securing its first Final Four appearance in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament the Lady Pirates went on to secure their very first Finals stint with a 25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 26-24 win over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the step-ladder semifinals at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Wednesday.

But for sure it will be an uphill climb for the Lady Pirates.

Up next for LPU is a championship date with back-to-back title seeking College of Saint Benilde starting on April 11 at the San Juan arena.

The UPHS Lady Altas were all set to extending the game further as they were at set point in the fourth, but as luck would have it, rookie setter Jhasmine Sapin committed a service error, allowing the Lady Pirates to level.

And overpowering as they were, the LPU Lady Pirates finished off the opposition courtesy of a Joan Doguna go-ahead kill before playmaker Venice Puzon nailed the match-clinching service ace that all but sealed the deal.

Doguna led the Lady Pirates with 17 points, Johna Dolorito added 14 points, while Puzon tossed in 20 excellent sets, including four service aces.

Meanwhile, San Beda advanced to the men’s volleyball championship round for the first time since 2012 following a 27-25, 12-25, 25-17, 25-18 win over Arellano University.

Kenrod Umali paced the Red Spikers with 15 points and four receptions, Justine Santos had three blocks for a 13-point outing while Ralph Cabalsa also scored 13 points and collected four digs.

San Beda will face three-peat seeking Perpetual, which it also faced in the team’s most recent championship appearance 11 years ago, in the best-of-three series on April 11.

Carl Berdal had 17 points on 16-of-30 attacks while Arman Guinto added 13 points, including two service aces, 14 receptions and seven digs for the Chiefs.

Shai Umipon scored 17 points while Mary Rhose Dapol contributed 13 points, including two service aces, for the Lady Altas.