MANILA — Colegio de San Juan de Letran delivered a historic breakthrough, dethroning defending champion College of St. Benilde in a pulsating five-set finale to capture the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball crown and end a 28-year title drought at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Knights outlasted the Lady Blazers, 15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12, in a winner-take-all Game 3 that showcased grit, composure, and timely execution under pressure.
Locked at 12-all in the decisive fifth set, Letran leaned on clutch plays from Verrenice Colendra and Vanessa Sarie to seize a 14-12 advantage before Joralyn Panangin sealed the championship with a service ace that landed on the endline, igniting celebrations from the packed crowd.
Colendra powered Letran’s offense with 23 points built on 21 attacks, one block, and one ace to earn Player of the Game honors, anchoring the Lady Knights’ long-awaited return to the top.
The loss ended the Lady Blazers’ four-year reign, as they fell short of extending their dominance despite forcing a rubber match in the finals series.
For Letran, the title underscored a remarkable resurgence, snapping nearly three decades of frustration and reestablishing the program as a force in NCAA women’s volleyball.
Meanwhile, the College of Saint Benilde Blazing Spikers salvaged glory for the Taft-based school by clinching the men’s volleyball championship, sweeping Mapua University Cardinals, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21, in their own winner-take-all Game 3.
Reymark Betco starred for Benilde and was named Finals Most Valuable Player, leading a composed and dominant performance that kept Mapua at bay throughout the match.
Head coach Arnold Laniog, who orchestrated Benilde’s campaign, was also recognized as Coach of the Year after guiding the squad to a strong finish.
After dropping the series opener, CSB regrouped with authority, controlling the tempo in Games 2 and 3 and capitalizing on crucial moments to secure the championship.
The twin outcomes marked a dramatic conclusion to NCAA Season 101 volleyball, highlighted by Letran’s historic breakthrough and Benilde’s reaffirmation of its status as a men’s volleyball powerhouse./PN
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Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights’ Vanessa Sarie stretches for an attack. NCAA PHOTO
