Colegio de San Juan de Letran sent De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde reeling to its first finals loss in five seasons as it pulled off a 17-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-14, 15-11 win in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball finals on Sunday.
Judiel Nitura came up clutch to finish with 21 points, while Vanessa Sarie and Gia Maquilang chipped in 19 and 18 markers, respectively, to help stun the four-time defending champion Blazers.
Maquilang also added 17 digs and 13 receptions, while Sarie had 17 receptions as Letran moved on the cusp of ending Benilde's four-season reign in women's volleyball.
"Sobrang saya kasi naging buo kami na nanalo sa Benilde. Sobrang tagal na namin 'tong pinapangarap, na makuha 'yung championship," Nitura said after the two-hour, 18-minute game.
"Pero hindi pa 'to tapos. May Game 2 pa, so kailangan naming pag-igihan pa."
Letran suffered a slump early in Set 5 when Sarie committed a crucial service error, allowing Benilde to break a 4-all deadlock. Shahanna Lleses then challenged Sarie's reception skills by unleashing an ace, while another strong serve from her confused the Lady Knights on the next play, helping the Lady Blazers race to a 7-4 cushion.
Cam Bartolome put up a block on Nitura on the opposite side to give Benilde a 10-8 advantage, but Sarie responded with a kill, followed by a surprise ace from Joralyn Panangin as Letran forced a 10-all deadlock.
MVP frontrunner Zam Nolasco, though, shattered that standoff with a drop ball from the middle to give Benilde a narrow one-point lead.
That became Benilde's last point as Letran sealed the victory with a blistering 5-0 closing run. Sarie started it off with a bullet from the left side before Nitura's ace gave Letran a 13-11 lead. A Lleses attack error and another Sarie kill punctuated Letran's victory.
Nolasco paced Benilde with 21 points anchored on 19 attacks and two blocks, while Bartolome chipped in 15 markers.
—JKC, GMA News
