The NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament is off to a tough home stretch as teams jostle for a Final Four spot. 

Defending champs Benilde Lady Blazers and season contenders Mapúa Lady Cardinals strengthened their hold of the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds via commanding wins last Saturday, while the Arellano Lady Chiefs bumped off the erstwhile No. 4-ranked Perpetual Lady Altas on Sunday. 

SATURDAY GAMES (MAY 17, 2025)
The reigning champs from Taft took care of business with an easy three-set win over the struggling San Beda unit, 25-17, 25-19, 25-18, behind Chenae Basarte’s 21 excellent sets and three excellent digs.  

Talking about Chenae's impact on Benilde's team chemistry, head coach Onyok Getigan lauded the Cebuana setter for her influential all-around play.

“Ginagawa niya lahat eh,” said Getigan. “Yung setter connection nya sa middle, sa opposite, sa backrow attack, tapos may depensa rin. (Then) nakaka-salag din pag nasa harap.”

Meanwhile, ace player Freighanne Garcia steered Mapúa to a sweep of JRU, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22, scattering 16 points on 15 attacks and an ace. 

The win was the Lady Cardinals’ 10th overall in 15 games.

"Nagustuhan ko yung galaw ng mga bata, gustong-gusto nila manalo. Ngayong patapos na yung second round, kailangan naming manalo nang manalo para ma-establish namin yung pag-Final Four na matagal na namin gusto," said Lady Cardinals head tactician Clarence Esteban.

With only five losses to their name, the Intramuros-based squad currently sits in solo third place, only behind the Letran (13-2) and Benilde (12-2).

SUNDAY GAMES (MAY 18, 2025)
The Arellano Lady Chiefs completed a reverse sweep in a tough playoff-like contest against the Perpetual Lady ALTAs, 19-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 19-17.

Samantha Tiratira went off for 21 points (19 atks, 1 blk, 1 ace) to help Arellano (10-6) claim the crucial win that has allowed them to momentarily snatch the fourth spot from Perpetual (9-6).

Prior to the AU-UPHSD slugfest, the Final Four-seeking LPU Lady Pirates also pulled off a five-set comeback against the EAC Lady Generals. 

Despite falling in the first two sets, 15-25, 21-25, LPU fought back and won three straight, 25-22, 25-22, 15-23, to take home the important dub. 

Team captain Venice Puzon tallied 19 excellent sets together with two service aces for the Lady Pirates, who improved to 7-8 with only three games remaining on their docket.

The win was a welcome sight for the currently No. 7-ranked LPU, as they try to collect as many victories as they could to salvage a Final Four spot.

(With reports from Ian Zane Esparaga/GMA Regional TV and Synergy)