MANILA – College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers moved closer to a NCAA women’s volleyball four-peat after a 26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 win against Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights in Game 1 at the Playtime FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Zamantha Nolasco led the way with 21 points, including eight blocks, to lead the way for the defending champions Lady Blazers, which will look to complete a four-peat this season.
Cristy Ondangan posted 14 points while Mycah Go and Shahanna Lleses chipped in 12 and 10 markers apiece for the Lady Blazers, which will look to wrap up the series tonight.
“Sobrang laking tulong sa amin nu’ng block kasi ‘yun naman po ‘yung nire-remind sa amin ni coach kasi doon kami kukuha ng kumpiyansa sa laro,” Nolasco said after the win. “Mas tumataas ‘yung confidence namin ‘pag nakaka-block kami.”
After losing the opening set, the Lady Blazers returned to its winning ways in the next three sets, including in the fourth set where Clydel Catarig nailed consecutive points to establish an 11-8 lead.
Catarig varied her next attack, going for an off-speed touch that caught Letran’s defense sleeping as the Lady Blazers cruised to a 22-16 lead while a Nolasco denied Sarie to deliver the match point at 24-17.
Rookie Vanessa Sarie finished with a double-double of 19 points and 12 excellent receptions, while Gia Maquilang contributed 15 markers and 10 excellent digs for the Lady Knights.
Meanwhile, Arellano University Lady Chiefs weathered a scoring outburst from Freighanne Garcia to salvage a podium finish against Mapua University Lady Cardinals, 27-25, 22-25, 31-29, 20-25, 15-9 in the battle for third place
Garcia poured in a new NCAA scoring record of 38 points, eclipsing a previous mark set by Sarie, who churned out 37 points during the Lady Knights win over the Lady Chiefs last May 16.
Moming Padillon and Laika Tudlasan led the way for the Lady Chiefs with the former scattering 25 points anchored on 22 attacks and three blocks while the latter posted 20 markers./PN
