De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde got back at its previous tormentor Colegio de San Juan de Letran, eking out a 25-20, 36-34, 25-20 win in NCAA Season 101 men's volleyball on Sunday at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
Facing each other for the first time since last season’s Final Four — where the Knights overcame the Blazers’ twice-to-beat edge to reach the finals — Benilde made sure to get payback this time around to extend its winning streak to three and improve to 6-3 in Group A.
Letran, meanwhile, saw its own three-game winning streak come to an end as it slipped to 5-4 in Group B.
Reymark Betco shone during their dramatic Set 2 comeback win to finish with a team-high 26 points built on 24 attacks, one block, and one ace while reigning MVP Rocky Motol posted 15 markers and 13 receptions. Mike Balbacal and Dexter Graniada chipped in 13 and 11 markers each.
Felix Bermido caught fire late in the second set, firing off back-to-back points to give the Knights a 24-21 cushion. But the Blazers refused to buckle as Betco answered with two straight kills before Graniada denied Bembem Bautista to force a 24-all deadlock.
Betco scored four more points in the next plays as the Blazers took a 28-27 lead in the extended set. But the Knights continued to rally behind Dave Lardizabal and Bautista, whose combination play knotted the score at 32-all.
Betco asserted himself from the opposite side again, unloading two straight attacks to give the Taft crew a slim 34-33 edge. However, he misfired on his ensuing serve, sending it long and allowing the Knights to force yet another deuce.
Another service error, this time from Letran's John Santiagudo, and a tip from Balbacal proved to be the finishing kick the Blazers needed as they snatched the set to take a commanding lead.
Benilde never looked back since then with Balbacal unleashing the quick hammer in Set 3 to clinch the match point at 24-18. Grandiada released the exclamation by going over the one-man wall of Lardizabal on the right wing as Benilde hacked out the sweep.
Before this win, Benilde had struggled against Letran, dropping three straight matches to the Knights. The Blazers fell in the second round of Season 100 and then saw their twice-to-beat edge slip away in the semifinals.
Despite the loss, Bautista and Lardizabal were the bright spots for Letran after tallying 14 and 12 points apiece while Christer Ambrocio chipped in 11 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
