Zam Nolasco says Benilde's Game 1 win fueled by Round 1 loss that snapped their 43-game streak

GMA Network

2 days ago

By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde stepped into Game 1 of NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball finals on Sunday not just chasing another title, but also redemption.
The Lady Blazers were pitted against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which was the same team that snapped their dynastic 43-game winning streak dating back to the pandemic-hit Season 95 in 2020. The Lady Knights stunned them during their Round 1 meeting, pulling off a 25-22, 25-23, 26-24 shock sweep last March 8.
The Taft crew made sure it wouldn't happen again, especially with a bigger prize at stake this time.
Benilde, though, had to endure a first set hiccup before taking down the Lady Knights with a 26-28, 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 victory to move a win away from its fourth title in a row.
"Nu'ng first round, may dalawang losses kami and 'yung isa doon sa Letran. Pinilit talaga namin na hindi na sila makakaisa pa ulit sa amin and makabawi," Zam Nolasco, who starred in that four-set romp, told GMA News Online.
"Nakikita naman sa game namin na maganda naman 'yung nilalaro namin."
[In the first round, we had two losses and one of those was to Letran. We tried hard not to let them get another over us and to bounce back... You can see it in our game, we are playing well.]
Benilde had already avenged that loss when they secured a 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18 win over Letran in their Round 2 rematch where, incidentally, Nolasco also led the charge with 17 points built on 11 attacks and six blocks.
In Game 1 of the championship round, the third-year middle blocker was also in command after dropping a team-high 21 points built on 12 attacks, eight blocks, and one ace.
While momentum is clearly on their side, the 6-foot tower stressed that the team is focused on leaving the past behind—including the last three championships—as they aim to close out Letran and complete a rare four-peat on Wednesday.
"Sinasabi sa amin na 'yung championship last season, 'yung mga nakaraan ay sa seniors na namin 'yun e," she added.
"Kumbaga, ngayong season na 'to kukunin na namin and ayun 'yung magiging sa amin. Doon lang kami nagfo-focus."
[We're told that the championship last season, that's for our seniors... This season, we want to win this and this is for us. That's what we're focused on.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News