De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde recovered from a first set hiccup to complete a 26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 win against Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball finals on Sunday at the Filoil Centre.
Third-year middle blocker Zam Nolasco was an unstoppable force at the net after unleashing eight monster blocks, including the match point-clinching rejection on Vanessa Sarie, to finish with 21 points to help the Lady Blazers deny the Lady Knights.
Cristy Ondangan posted 14 points while Mycah Go and Shahanna Lleses chipped in 12 and 10 markers apiece.
The Lady Blazers will shoot for a four-peat title run come Wednesday in Game 2 of the best-of-three series.
"Sobrang laking tulong sa amin nu'ng block kasi 'yun naman po 'yung nire-remind sa amin ni coach kasi doon kami kukuha ng kumpiyansa sa laro," Nolasco told GMA News Online.
"Mas tumataas 'yung confidence namin 'pag nakaka-block kami."
The Lady Blazers made a profit out of Letran's 12 errors in the first set, but it was the Lady Knights who emerged victorious with Nicen Colendra and Sarie providing the last two points in the extended frame.
Benilde, though, returned to its winning ways in the next three sets to put away the gritty Lady Knights.
Clydel Catarig was unleashed in the fourth set as the young opposite hitter converted two consecutive attacks from the right side to give the reigning champions an 11-8 cushion.
Catarig varied her next attack, going for an off-speed touch that caught Letran's defense sleeping as the Lady Blazers cruised to a 22-16 lead while a Nolasco denied Sarie to deliver the match point at 24-17.
Nolasco put the exclamation after returning an overpass from Letran's libero Lara Mae Silva to complete the four-set romp.
Sarie posted 19 points in the loss while also grabbing 12 receptions while Gia Maquilang listed 15 markers and 10 digs.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
