Reymark Betco and Rocky Motol powered De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde past Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 19-25, 26-24, 21-25, 25-23, 15-9, in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 101 men’s volleyball semifinals on Friday at San Andres Gym to punch their ticket to the finals.
With the victory, the Blazers returned to the finals for the first time since Season 94 in 2019.
Letran held a 20-16 lead in the fourth set before Benilde cut the deficit to two. After an unsuccessful in/out challenge, the Knights went up 21-18, but Betco and company rallied to tie the set. The Blazers then won a successful reaching challenge to grab the lead, before Motol scored again to move them within two points of forcing a fifth set.
Max Lopez snapped Benilde’s 7-1 run, but Motol pushed the Blazers to set point. Lopez saved one for Letran, but Betco sealed the frame to extend the match.
In the deciding fifth set, Benilde held a slim 6-5 edge before Betco and Mike Balbacal sparked a crucial 3-0 run. A service error by Motol gave Letran a point, but the Blazers quickly regrouped and held off the Knights. Motol eventually finished the match after Letran’s net fault challenge was ruled unsuccessful.
Betco erupted for 33 points built on 31 attacks and two aces, while Motol contributed 23 points and 27 receptions. Dexter Graniada added 10 points, and Chris Lorenz Villanueva orchestrated the offense with 36 excellent sets.
The win spoiled Vince Himzon’s 23-point effort, while Lopez chipped in 19 for the Knights. Dave Lardizabal added 13, and Bembem Bautista finished with 11.
Benilde will await the winner of the Arellano-Mapua series, which was forced into a deciding game on Sunday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
