Colegio de San Juan de Letran avoided the upset ax against rival San Beda University, escaping with a 25-22, 25-21, 27-29, 30-28 win in the NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball tournament on Tuesday.
The Lady Knights clawed their way back from seven points down in the fourth to take the hard-fought victory against the motivated Lady Red Spikers, who were welcoming star spiker Angel Habacon from an almost two-month absence due to injury.
Rookie Vanessa Sarie led the balanced attack for Letran, who has now improved 8-2 to momentarily take the solo lead. She poured in 24 points on 21 attacks, two blocks, and an ace together with seven receptions.
But she didn’t lack support with Gia Maquilang and Judiel Nitura supplying 15 and 12 markers apiece.
“First, it’s a hard-fought game. San Beda really played well. Pagbalik ni Angel Habacon, I guess, that made the difference,” Letran head coach Oliver Almadro said.
“I commend San Beda for working hard today.”
Letran, actually, started a huge comeback attempt in the third set when the wards of Almadro erased a 10-17 deficit and forced a 27-all deadlock.
But the fight in San Beda, inspired by the comebacking Habacon, was in full display after the latter went off-the-block while Reyann Cañete unleashed an off-speed kill to bring the Lady Knights to a fourth set.
All hyped after that gritty Set 3 win, San Beda opened the fourth set strong by taking a 14-7 cushion. But the Lady Knights retaliated with a 7-0 blast to instigate the rampage.
San Beda was on cusp of forcing a decider when Letran setter Princes Tumayao was whistled for a double contact violation, 28-27.
Letran, though, scored three straight points, including a net error by the Red Spikers, to seal their eighth victory.
Habacon returned in style by scattering 20 points together with 11 receptions while Cañete displayed her veteran presence with 18 markers as they remained winless at 0-10.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
