The NCAA men’s volleyball title has found its way back to Taft as De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde dominated Mapua University in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Season 101 finals on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Blazing Spikers, who were stunned in the series opener before outlasting the Cardinals in Game 2, pulled off a 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 win to get the job done and end their nine-year title drought.
The last time Benilde was at the top of men’s volleyball was in 2017.
"Very fulfilling talaga kasi after pandemic, 'yung volleyball program ng Benilde nag-back to zero. Then going to first season ng pandemic, pang-number seven kami so tiyaga din lang," Benilde head coach Arnold Laniog said.
"This time, tatlo 'yung sophomores ko and buti nag-level up, sila [Reymark] Betco, si [Martin] Baldado, si [Dexter] Graniada, and si Rocky Motol. Very satisfying dahil alam mong nanggaling sa baba tapos sa dahan-dahang naiakyat."
After years of near-misses and shortcomings, the Blazing Spikers have finally completed their unfinished business. And they ended the dry spell in a dominant fashion.
Benilde, though, started out flat with Mapua racing to an 18-13 lead in Set 1 after Rocky Motol overcooked his kill from the right side. But the Blazing Spikers slowly cralwe their way out of that hole with Reymark Betco burying a combination play that gave Benilde a 23-22 lead.
Motol then fired the last two points, including the set-winning bullet that allowed Benilde to set the tone, 25-23.
The Cardinals kept it close in Set 2 by forcing a 17-all deadlock, but the Blazing Spikers responded with an 8-1 closing run capped by a quick hammer from team captain John Austero as they surged to a commanding 2-0 lead.
Mapua kept Benilde within striking distance by leaning on graduating outside spiker Barbie Andres and sophomore opposite hitter PJ Reyes, whose attack from the right side pulled the Cardinals to within one point, 17-16.
Betco then swung for two consecutive kills, including a powerful spike against Mapua's triple block, which allowed Benilde to seize a 19-16 cushion before their own block denied San Andres to take a 21-18 lead.
Betco then converted an out-of-system play into a point from the backrow that made it a 23-19 advantage before Dex Graniada was left wide open for the match point-clinching kill from the left side, 24-20.
San Andres saved one match point for Mapua, but his next attack was delayed by the net before sailing out as Benilde punctuated the sweep victory despite a challenge called by the Cardinals.
Betco once again starred for Benilde with 17 points, picking up where he left off in Game 2 where he dropped 33 points, to go along with six digs while Motol finished with 15 markers and 15 receptions.
Graniada and Austero provided the help with seven points each as setter Chris Villanueva had 30 excellent sets to orchestrate the offense.
—JKC, GMA News
