Games on Sunday:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 p.m. – EAC vs Perpetual (Men’s Finals)
2:30 PM – Letran vs Benilde (Women’s Finals)
MANILA — The College of Saint Benilde surged towards a potential three-peat with a commanding 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 victory over Letran in the opening Finals clash of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Sunday (19 May 2024).
Despite Lady Knights’ resilience in the initial set, the Lady Blazers asserted dominance in the following two sets, clinching a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three series.
Reflecting on the intense encounter, coach Jerry Yee emphasized the importance of focus and attention to detail, highlighting valuable lessons for the team. Benilde aims to secure their fourth title in Game 2, scheduled for 2:30 PM on Sunday (26 May 2024) at the San Juan Arena.
Speaking about the significance of Game 1, Gayle Pascual echoed coach Yee’s sentiments, acknowledging its role in setting the championship’s tone. However, she emphasized the team’s reset mindset, focusing on the challenges ahead.
Letran (1977-80), San Sebastian (1982-84, 1986-88, 1990-96, 1999-2002, 2005-11), University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (2012-14) and Arellano University (2017-19) were the schools which completed a three-peat.
Notably, their previous triumph in 2016 against the formidable Grethcel Soltones-led Lady Stags stands as a testament to their resilience.
Pascual, last season’s Finals MVP, showcased her prowess with 14 points, supported by Michelle Gamit’s commendable performance contributing 14 points as well.
Zam Nolasco’s defensive prowess with four crucial blocks and Clo Mondoñedo’s precise setting with 15 excellent sets further solidified Benilde’s dominance.
Meanwhile, Letran’s efforts were led by rookie Gia Maquilang and Judiel Nitura, who displayed resilience despite the formidable challenge posed by the Lady Blazers.
(el Amigo/MNM)
The CSB Lady Blazers
Image Courtesy of: V-League
The Lady Blazers displayed dominance against the Lady Warriors, edging closer to securing a spot in the V-League finals with a commanding performance.
The College of Saint Benilde showcased its defensive prowess as it conquered the University of the East with set scores of 25-22, 25-13, 25-12 in the best-of-three semifinal series hosted at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday.
In a decisive closing run, the Lady Blazers secured the victory with an impressive 8-0 streak. This remarkable streak was punctuated by a sequence of three consecutive hits by Zam Nolasco, including two consecutive kill blocks. Nolasco delivered an outstanding performance, contributing six blocks and six successful attacks to the team’s triumph.
Jade Gentapa led CSB with 15 points, achieved through 12 successful attacks, two of which played a pivotal role in their strong finish.
During the eliminations, CSB faced a tough challenge from UE, narrowly winning with set scores of 23-25, 25-22, 29-27, 25-18 on September 10. However, in this semifinal encounter, they managed to contain the league’s top scorer, Caseiy Dongallo, limiting her to just nine points.
Khy Cepeda and Riza Nogales also contributed six points each for the Recto-based squad.
(ai/mnm)