Benilde Lady Blazers overcome late rally from Mapua, enters Final Four
NCAA
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde overcame a late rally from Mapua, 25-12, 25-19, 26-24, on Friday in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament to officially claim a slot in the Final Four.
The Lady Blazers, who are aiming for their fourth straight title, improved to 14-2 and took the top spot of the standings, while the Lady Cardinals slipped to 11-6.
Benilde will also mark its fourth straight appearance in the Final Four since the league returned to action after the pandemic-halted Seasons 95 and 96.
Mapua was leading 17-12 in the third set as it tried to extend the match, but Mycah Go led the fightback for the Taft-based squad and inched closer, 17-16. Tere Manalo, Freighanne Garcia, and Theresa Tambasacan further widened Mapua's lead, 21-16, but Go started another run for the Lady Blazers.
As Garcia put Mapua at 23-20, Benilde managed to pull off and score four straight, with Rhea Mae Densing putting the Lady Blazers at match point. Nicole Ong then salvaged one to tie the set, but an attack error from Mapua and Cristy Ondangan's ace sealed the victory for Benilde.
"Nasa top kami ngayon eh. 'Yun plano namin, makuha ang top 1 para magka-advantage," Benilde head coach Onyok Getigan said after the victory.
Densing led the Lady Blazers with 20 points from 19 attacks and a block, to go with nine digs, while Ondangan added 15 points. Go, meanwhile, had 11 points.
Only Raissa Ricablanca was able to score in double digits for Mapua with 11 points which went with 10 digs.
The win also handed Benilde a twice-to-beat bonus with only two games remaining, and also assured Colegio de San Juan de Letran a slot in the semifinals.
Benilde will still face University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and Lyceum of the Philippines University, while Mapua will close its elimination round campaign against Letran.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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