By: Aishah Jimenez
The Lady Knights also clinched second place with a breakthrough performance following a hard-fought battle against the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers in the NCAA Season 100 Volleyball Finals. Photo Courtesy: NCAA Philippines.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran bowed down to the dominant Benilde Lady Blazers in straight sets, 25-19, 25-22, 25-19, during the NCAA Season 100 Women’s Volleyball Finals Game 2 on June 11, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Rookie of the Year Vanessa Sarie pioneered the Lady Knights’ run with 12 points laced on 10 attacks and two blocks. Judiel Nitura finished with 11 markers, while Gia Maquilang was delimited to six.
Letran’s loss automatically gave Lady Blazers the completion to their 4-peat bid, which in turn lengthened their title drought to 26 years as they last fastened the crown within the corners of Intramuros in Season 74.
Still, the former will not go home in complete defeat as they not only halted the latter’s 43-game winning streak that lasted six years but they likewise delivered a back-to-back finals game appearance.
Benilde, owing to their hazy offense strategy, consistently pinned CSJL behind them. After Verenicce Colendra’s drop ball, the former’s Mycah Go exploded with a cross-court hammer and a block point, 23-17. Colendra and Go battled head-to-head, before Sarie put the crew at 19, yet it was Clydel Catarig’s hit with no coverage on Letran's court that closed out the set.
Still, with heads held up, the Lady Knights may have found the missing piece, eventually leveling to CSB’s offense. A long service from Chenae Basarte pushed Letran just a point behind the latter, 23-22, but Rhea Densing’s soft tip and Shahanna Lleses’ off-the-block point handed Benilde its second set victory.
Ensuing an all-8 affair on the third set, Benilde had worked its way up to deny a possible collapse. Densing and Zam Nolasco’s successive scores delivered an eight-point upset to Letran, 22-14, but Colendra once again refused to back down, which was supported by Sarie’s hit and Nitura’s tip but Cristy Ondangan’s quick attack stowed the Lady Blazers to victory.
Leading the sweetest feat for the Taft-based squad was Cristy Ondangan with 13 points laced on 10 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while Clydel Catarig contributed 11. Captain-MVP Mycah Go produced nine.
Great things are on the horizon as the Lady Knights rose to prominence in the individual awards. Sarie earned the Freshman of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and 2nd Best Outside Spiker titles, while Captain Lara Mae Silva and Judiel Nitura captured the Best Libero and Best Opposite Spiker honors.