College of St. Benilde shoots for another title sweep while University of Perpetual Help guns for a four-peat title when they clash with separate rivals in the NCAA Season 99 women’s and men’s volleyball finals at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Sunday, May 19.

The Lady Blazers square off with the Letran Lady Knights at 2 p.m. with the Taft-based crew eyeing a third straight 11-game title sweep and extend its amazing run after staying unbeaten in its last 30 games dating back four years ago during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Game 2 is slated next Sunday, May 26, while a decider, if necessary, is June 1 at the same venue.

“Expectations aside, all teams are on equal footing when they get to the Finals. Both teams have to execute their plans and strategies come game time,” said CSB coach Jerry Yee, whose charges swept the elimination round in nine games including a 21, 25-18, 25-21, 25-19 win over Letran last April 1.

For the Lady Knights, they’ve completed a return to the finals since making it that far 12 years back and they carry with them the hope that they could end a long wait for another crown since winning it all in 1999.

The credit of Letran’s impressive turnaround, of course, should go to its new coach Oliver Almadro, a four-time UAAP champion who brought his winning ways and culture to the Dominican school and steered them from fifth to the finals and, possibly, a champion.

The Intramuros-based crew finished No. 2 with a 7-2 record before outlasting Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-15, 25-21, 19-25, 19-25, 15-11, in the stepladder semis to catch the last bus to the finals.

Though opponents on the court, the two squads share a common denominator — the backing of Strong Group Athletics. A

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Altas as they collide with the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals at 11:30 a.m.
After sweeping the eliminations to book an early berth in the finals, the Altas aim for another historic feat.

But it was easier said than done as the Generals, who finished No. 2 in the elims, are up for redemption as they eye to erase the stigma of their failed title bid in their last finals appearance in 2015 at the expense of the same rival.

Perpetual skipper and reigning MVP Louie Ramirez said they are wary of the Generals, while Altas head coach Sammy Acaylar also kept on reminding his stalwarts not to take their opponents lightly.

"We prepared a lot for this Game One, I don't want the players to be complacent at the start of the series, I want high intensity and I know my team is prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, we are just waiting for the result of our 2-week preparation for this series," Acaylar said.

The Altas are also banking on their 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 victory in their first encounter with the Generals.