MANILA — Ilongga rookie Cam Bartolome delivered a breakout performance under pressure as the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers reasserted their championship form, sweeping the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Lady Altas, 25-20, 25-16, 25-19, to tighten the race in the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Bartolome, a native of Iloilo City, fired 13 points and earned Player of the Game honors as the defending champions completed the straight-sets revenge win in just one hour and 17 minutes. The Taft-based squad avenged its first-round loss to Perpetual and improved to 7-3 in Group A.
The rookie’s spark came at crucial stretches, complementing the steady firepower of veterans Clydel Catarig and Zamantha Nolasco, who paced Benilde with 16 points apiece.
Shekaina Lleses added seven markers while anchoring the floor defense with 11 digs and 11 receptions, stabilizing the Lady Blazers’ backline. Setter Chenae Basarte orchestrated the offense with precision, tallying 19 excellent sets to keep Perpetual’s blockers guessing.
On the other end, Jem Menor carried the scoring load for the Lady Altas with 16 points, but Benilde’s balanced attack and defensive discipline proved too much, snapping Perpetual’s three-game winning streak. The Lady Altas dropped to 8-2.
In the day’s other result, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights survived a furious comeback by the Emilio Aguinaldo College Lady Generals, hacking out a 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 25-27, 15-13 victory.
Judiel Nitura erupted for 21 points built on 20 attacks and a service ace to clinch Player of the Game honors as Letran stayed unbeaten at 10-0. Emilio Aguinaldo fell to 0-10.
With Bartolome stepping up and the veterans rediscovering their rhythm, Benilde’s title defense appears firmly back on course./PN
