De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde avoided crumbling in another thriller, securing a 25-22, 23-25, 23-25, 25-13, 15-5 win over San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the NCAA Season 101 women's volleyball tournament on Tuesday.
The Lady Blazers, whose three losses all came in grueling five-setters, leaned on the quartet of Zam Nolasco, Clyde Catarig, Shekaina Lleses, and Cam Bartolome to fend off the Lady Stags and formally secure a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
With the victory, Benilde climbed to 8–3 in Group A, trailing only the Perpetual Lady ALTAs (9-2). San Sebastian slipped to 5–7 but remains on course to clinch an outright quarterfinal berth.
Nolasco sizzled with a game-high 28 points anchored on 18 attacks, eight blocks, and two aces while Catarig poured in 20 markers highlighted by six blocks. Lleses chipped in 15 points and 24 receptions while Bartolome chimed in with 13 points.
It was a hard-earned triumph for the reigning four-time champions.
The Lady Stags surged to a commanding 2–1 set advantage after Juna May Gonzales and Kath Santos combined to snap a 22-all deadlock in Set 3 and squeeze out a tight 25–23 victory.
But the Lady Blazers flaunted the championship composure they’ve honed through the years, storming into Set 4 with a blistering 8–0 start before Nolasco hit one from the middle to make it an 18-10 cushion.
Cristy Ondangan and Catarig provided the last two points in the frame to help Benilde drag the upset-hungry San Sebastian to a fifth set, 25-13.
The Lady Stags stayed within striking distance early in Set 5 with Tina Marasigan narrowing the gap to 4–3. But Benilde turned up the hear, unleashing a crucial 5–0 run sparked by three consecutive attacks from Nolasco and capped by a Lleses kill, sending the Lady Blazers to a 9–3 lead.
Ondangan finished it off by completing two running attacks in the endgame to help Benilde punch its quarterfinals ticket.
Gonzales had another big game after erupting for 27 points while Santos and Maarasigan posted 22 and 15 markers apiece in the loss that ended their three-game winning streak.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
