Colegio de San Juan de Letran denied De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde its five-peat aspirations to capture its first title after 28 long years.
The Lady Knights pulled off a thrilling 15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12 win in Game 3 of the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball finals on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The victory delivered Letran’s first crown since 1998, when the Lady Knights won back-to-back finals behind player-turned-coach Mayeth Carolino.
The Lady Knights had to dig deep in a grueling five-set thriller with Nicen Colendra shining off the bench by unleashing a team-high 23 points, including five in Set 5, while Vanessa Sarie poured in 19 markers and 15 receptions.
Gia Maquilang dazzled with a triple-double of 17 points, 17 receptions, and 13 digs while graduating libero Lara Mae Silva ended her collegiate career with 33 digs.
"Sobrang saya, sobrang hindi ko ma-explain 'yung saya ko na natupad 'yung goal namin. Nakuha namin 'tong championship na 'to sa tulong ng mga kasama ko sa coaching staff," Carolino said.
"Hindi ko 'to kaya nang mag-isa. Ang mga bata, super proud ako sa kanila na tinrabaho namin talaga hanggang dulo."
With history on the line, Letran bucked a flat start that allowed the Lady Blazers to eke out a 25-15 win in the opening frame and hacked out gutsy wins in Sets 2 and 3 to move one win away from the championship.
But Benilde displayed poise in Set 4 with MVP Zam Nolasco helping the Lady Blazers force a deciding frame and keep their five-peat dream alive.
Unbowed, the Lady Knights opened Set 5 with a 4-1 start capped by back-to-back attacks from Colendra and Sarie. Colendra continued to rise above pressure as she unloaded a block on Shekaina Lleses and an opposite kill for a crucial 7-5 cushion.
Benilde was able to force a 9-9 deadlock off a successful ball in/ball out challenge from a Cam Bartolome hit. Letran would clinch a 12-10 lead, but Benilde tied it all up again with two consecutive points.
But similar to its Game 1 composure, Letran held its ground, shutting the door on Benilde with a 3-0 closing run capped by a championship-clinching service ace from Joralyn Panangin.
That ace finally enabled Letran to crack the Benilde riddle, which had troubled them in their previous two finals matchups.
—JKC, GMA News
