De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is sustaining its comeback campaign after securing a berth in the NCAA Season 101 men’s volleyball finals.
The Blazers swept Colegio de San Juan de Letran in their best-of-three semifinal series, marking the Taft-based squad’s return to the championship stage after a seven-year absence, or since 2019.
For Reymark Betco, one of Benilde’s most explosive scorers, the season also serves as redemption after falling short in last year’s Final Four.
In that campaign, it was also Letran that denied them a finals ticket despite Benilde finishing atop the elimination round and entering the semifinals with a twice-to-beat edge.
“Siguro, gustong-gusto lang din namin talaga sila talunin. Kasi ayun nga, gusto naming comeback kasi twice beaten kami last season,” Betco told GMA News Online.
Now in just his second playing year, Betco has found his rhythm with the team, forming a strong partnership with reigning Most Valuable Player Rocky Motol to power the Blazers’ run.
From playing in one-day leagues to being encouraged by former team captain Arnel Aguilar to join the squad, Betco has since found a home at 2544 Taft Avenue.
"Pamilya na din kasi turingan namin, kaya ayun, naging maganda yung tandem namin [ni Motol] kasi nakikinig din kami kay coach lagi sa kung ano yung pinapagawa sa amin."
Benilde will now await the winner of the deciding Game 3 semifinal between Mapua University and Arellano University on Sunday to determine its finals opponent.
—GMA Integrated News
