Benilde earns payback vs. Letran to regain top spot in NCAA women's volleyball
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde gained a measure of revenge against its first-round tormentor Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18, in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Lady Blazers once again leaned on the tandem of Zam Nolasco and Cristy Ondangan to escape the Lady Knights in four sets as the three-time defending champions regained the top spot at 13-2. Letran still holds the second spot with a 13-3 card.
Nolasco led the show with 17 points anchored on 11 attacks and six blocks while Ondangan chipped in 14 markers as they avenged their previous sweep loss to the Lady Knights.
"Nagre-relax 'yung mga bata nu'ng third set pero pagdating naman ng fourth set naayos naman namin," Benilde head coach Onyok Getigan said.
"'Yun (top spot) naman talaga 'yung target namin so 'yung susunod naming games malaking bagay if manalo kami kasi tataas 'yung kumpiyansa ng mga bata."
Down two sets, Letran mounted a comeback in the third set by turning a slim 8-7 lead to a 16-7 cushion after a series of attack errors from the side of Benilde. Another attack error from them sent Letran to the set point, 24-13, before the Lady Blazers unleashed a 4-0 run.
Nicen Colendra then dropped the hammer to finish the third frame and force a fourth set, 25-17. In that set, Benilde committed nine errors, paving the way for the extension.
But Benilde returned to its old ways in the fourth with team captain Mycah Go serving an ace to build a 13-10 lead while Rhea Densing sent them to a 16-11 cushion.
Benilde even made it a 20-12 separation before a Nolasco quick attack brought the four-peat seeking Lady Blazers to a 23-14 advantage. Densing finished it off by breaking the block of Judiel Nitura and Royce Dela Cruz to extend Benilde's win streak to six.
Shahanna Lleses and Densing supplied the support with 10 points each while veteran Go had an all-around outing of eight points, 18 digs, and nine receptions.
Vanessa Sarie, who was coming off a historic 37-point outing against Arellano last Friday, finished with 16 points laced with eight digs and 17 receptions while Nitura dropped 10 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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