Colegio de San Juan de Letran completed its date with destiny after dismantling San Beda University, 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, in their do-or-die Final Four Game 3 clash in the NCAA Season 101 women's volleyball on Saturday at the San Andres Sports Complex.
The Lady Knights, who suffered their first loss back in Game 2 that ended a 15-game winning streak, returned to their familiar deadly form to eliminate the Lady Red Spikers and set up their third straight finals date with four-time defending champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Letran, however, didn’t get through it without a scare.
The Intramuros crew stumbled in Set 3 as the determined Lady Red Spikers surged to a 22–15 lead behind spark plugs Chynna Castillo and Sofia Dela Cruz. But the Lady Knights answered with a furious rally, with Joralyn Panangin capping an 8–2 run that pulled Letran within one, 23–24.
A service error from Nizelle Martin, however, spoiled Letran's rally as San Beda forced a Set 4 to stay alive.
Graduating opposite hitter Judiel Nitura then took over in the fourth set after firing back-to-back attacks to give the Intramuros crew a 16–13 cushion and smartly using Castillo’s block on the right side to extend the lead to 18–14.
San Beda tried to lean on Janelle Bachar for another attempt at a comeback as the lefty opposite hitter trimmed the gap to three, 19-16, but a costly service infraction from Angel Habacon sent Letran to match point at 24-20.
Nitura then punctuated it, soaring above the two-woman wall of Castillo and Jermaine Joniega to bring Letran back to the finals and a championship rematch with the Lady Blazers.
Nitura starred with 18 points and eight digs while Vanessa Sarie chipped in 15 markers and 10 receptions. Gia Maquilang, who returned to the starting lineup after six games due to a knee injury, finished with 13 markers.
Team captain and veteran libero Lara Mae Silva was also huge after she unloaded 38 digs and 13 receptions.
"Happy and blessed kasi graduating kami at alam naman namin na aabot at aabot kami sa finals kasi una pa lang, sinabi ko na hindi ako magbibigay ng chance sa iba," Silva told GMA News Online.
"Nagkaro'n kami agad ng sense or urgency after ng talo sa Game 2. And okay lang sa amin na natalo kami kasi nakita namin 'yung mga lapses namin."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
