San Beda University put an end to its slump against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, eking out a massive 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 15-12 win in the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday.
Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar formed a lethal tandem with the team captain pouring a triple-double outing of 22 points, 11 digs, and 15 receptions while the lefty opposite hitter posted 24 markers, highlighted by the game-winning attack.
Chynna Castillo was also huge on both ends with 11 points, 12 digs, and five receptions as the Lady Red Spikers extended their winning streak to four to improve to 7-1 in Group B.
The win also gave San Beda its first win over Benilde in eight years or since 2018, when the Mendiola crew pulled off a four-set win in Season 93.
It also allowed the Lady Red Spikers to send Benilde to its second loss of the season as the Taft crew fell to 5-2 in Group A.
“Sobrang laki po ng win na ‘to para sa’min kasi binigay lang namin ‘yung best namin. Tinatrabaho po talaga namin sa ensayo,” Bachar told GMA News Online.
“Pinaghihirapan po namin bawat point at bawat laro kaya super saya po namin ngayon.”
Bachar connived with Habacon in Set 4 as they slowly pulled away from the four-time defending champions with a 15-9 lead.
The Lady Blazers tried to fight back behind Cam Bartolome and Clydel Catarig, whose opposite kill trimmed the gap to three, 16-19.
The Lady Red Spikers then retaliated with a 6-2 run to close out the frame and drag Benilde to a decider.
Benilde got an early upperhand in the final frame with Zam Nolasco unleashing a hit from the middle with authority to bring her side to a 7-4 cushion.
However, San Beda mounted a 4-1 rampage capped by a Bachar kill from the right wing to force an 8-all deadlock.
Nolasco stopped the dry spell for Benilde with another quick kill, but San Beda replied with a pivotal 5-0 blast that saw the wards of new head coach Kungfu Reyes enjoying a 13-9 lead.
Bachar then delivered the finishing kick by unleashing two straight kills that completely stunned the defending champions.
Nolasco paced Benilde with 25 points while Catarig chipped in 16 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
