MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED) Denied of an outright spot in the Finals, the Arellano University Lady Chiefs made sure to take care of business on Tuesday when they faced off against the San Beda University Lady Red Spikers in the Final 4 of the NCAA Season 94 women's volleyball tournament.

Behind a superb performance from veteran spiker Regine Arocha, the Lady Chiefs swept the Lady Red Spikers, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23, to advance to the finals of the women's volleyball tournament for the third season in a row.

The two-time defending champions could have jumped straight to the best-of-3 championship series, but they were beaten by San Beda in their final game of the elimination round in a thrilling five-setter.

That set up a Final 4 match-up between the two teams, in a rematch of last year's finals series. And just like in Season 93, the Lady Chiefs proved to be the better team as they outplayed the Lady Red Spikers in the closing stretches of every set.

"Talagang pinagpaguran namin 'yung practice," Arellano coach Obet Javier said following their win. "Almost one week ang preparation namin para makabawi."

"Simula talagang gusto namin talagang ma-sweep eh. Pero siguro talagang binigyan kami ng challenge ni God, na 'yun nga, nangyari nga ang Final 4. So sinabi ko lang sa bata na kalimutan na 'yung elimination," he also said.

Arocha shone for Arellano, tallying 17 points on 13 kills, two blocks and two aces. Sophomore star Necole Ebuen added 11 points and 13 digs, while Alyana San Gregorio -- who took the place of the inefficient Princess Bello -- added 11 points of her own.

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The Lady Chiefs won the opening frame comfortably, but had to dig deep in each of the last two sets to take down the stubborn Lady Red Spikers.

San Beda forced a 21-all tie late in Set 2 off a crosscourt hit by Cesca Racraquin, but Arocha spearheaded a 4-0 closing spurt for the Lady Chiefs to win the frame.

The Lady Red Spikers, playing with their backs against the wall, took a 20-15 lead in the third frame and appeared ready to drag the match to a fourth set. But San Beda's errors -- combined with a pair of clever attacks by Arocha -- allowed the Lady Chiefs to catch up. An attack error by Racraquin put Arellano ahead, 21-20.

A 3-1 burst by San Beda, capped by a quick kill from Sattriani Espiritu, gave them their last lead, 23-22. Arocha would not be denied, however, as she scored off the San Beda blockers, before San Gregorio fired a sharp crosscourt kill to put the defending champions at match point.

It was Ebuen who finished off the Lady Red Spikers, smartly tipping the ball to an unguarded spot as the San Beda players scrambled on defense.

"'Yung last game namin sa San Beda, talagang nagulat din kami, kumbaga. So after ng game namin, nagkaroon kami talaga ng adjustment," said Javier.

Nieza Viray led San Beda with 17 points, while Racraquin finished with 11 markers. The Lady Chiefs had more attacks (41-34), blocks (11-4), and aces (6-5), though they committed two more errors than the Lady Red Spikers (19-17).

Arellano, seeking a third straight women's volleyball title, will play either De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB) or University of Perpetual Help in the best-of-3 finals. This is their fourth championship appearance in the last five seasons.

"Talagang kailangan namin mag-trabaho," Javier said. "I-commit dapat nila 'yung sarili nila sa practice."

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

In the first phase of the step-ladder semifinals of the men's division, fourth-seeded Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) battled back from a two-set deficit to stun third-seeded Arellano in a five-set thriller.

The Generals pulled through in a heart-stopping fifth set for a 24-26, 8-25, 25-20, 25-18, 21-19 victory that took two hours and two minutes to finish.

Joshua Ramilo had 23 points, Joshua Mina added 20, and Aeron Daduya and Ralph Pitogo each scored 10 points as the youthful Generals stunned the Chiefs, last year's runner-up.

EAC now advances in the step-ladder semifinals to take on second-seeded CSB, with the Blazers armed with a twice-to-beat advantage. Already waiting in the finals are the defending champion Perpetual Help Altas, which swept the elimination round.

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