By: Rylie San Juan
Photo by Ram Christian Campos | The LANCE
Men’s Volleyball
The Letran Knights ended their winning streak after suffering a 0-3 sweep against the Benilde Blazers last Sunday, February 22, at the NCAA Season 101 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Bembem Bautista led the Knights in scoring, racking up 14 points with 12 spikes. Dave Lardizabal tallied 12 markers, while Lou Ambrocio ended the game with 11.
The match was tight right off the bat, both teams exchanged blows, and neither wanted to back down. Lardizabal’s high-flying attacks made it difficult for the Blazers to gain an advantage, while Ambrocio and Bautista scored at a steady rate. Multiple deadlocks were seen up to the closing minutes of the first set, but it was the Blazers who came out on top, securing the frame at 20-25.
The second set was more of the same; the match remained intense as both teams remained within striking distance of each other. The Knights kept the Blazers trailing for the majority of the set, with Letran at set point 24-21, the Blazers fought hard and managed to come back and force a set extension. The Blazers completed their comeback attempt after securing set two at 34-36.
The final set was as intense as the first two; the Knights pushed the pace with aggressive spikes and cross-court attacks, while the Blazers maintained their suffocating defense to keep Letran at bay. The back-and-forth scoring ensued while rallies remained short as both teams were eager to secure points. Multiple errors from the Knights did not help as the Blazers were always quick to capitalize on every opportunity. As the frame came to a close, the Blazers ended the winning streak of the Knights, securing set three at 20-25.
The Blazers rode Reymark Betco’s 26 points and 24 attacks, while Roy Motol’s 15 points, along with Mike Balbacal’s 13, also aided in their victory.
Women’s Volleyball
The Letran Lady Knights proved to be unstoppable once again, after stunning the defending champions, the Benilde Lady Blazers, in five intense sets, at the NCAA Season 101 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Judiel Nitura showed up once again, recording 22 points and a block that sealed the deal for the Lady Knights in set five. Gia Maquilang did not shy away from the challenge as well, tallying 16 points with 18 digs, while the sophomore, Vanessa Sarie, contributed 13.
The Lady Knights were red hot to start off the match. Nitura’s cross-court attacks instantly became a problem for the defending champs, while Maquilang’s signature high-flying spikes were on full display. The Lady Blazers did not back down, however, going on a run to cut the established lead of Letran. By the halfway mark, Benilde was able to recapture the lead and take the set 15-25.
Letran bounced back in the second set, thanks to the combined efforts of Nitura and Maquilang. The tandem spearheaded the offense for the Lady Knights while Lara Silva remained solid on defense, completing successful digs to prevent the scoring for Benilde. The Lady Knights managed to inch away from Benilde midway through the frame, securing a lead as big as five points, to which the Lady Blazers were unable to come back from. Maquilang closed out set two 25-19, courtesy of her signature spike.
Sarie’s offensive prowess did not stop in the third set as she proceeded to score at will. Deadlocks became a staple all throughout the match as both teams began to adjust their offense to try to outsmart each other. A 5-0 run from Benilde placed them firmly in the driver’s seat as they dominated the rest of the set, closing the frame at 19-25.
The Lady Knights took an early lead in the starting minutes of the fourth set. Nitura and Maquilang cranked up the pressure on Benilde to stretch the lead even further. Unforced errors and multiple attack faults became the downfall of the Lady Blazers in the fourth as numerous points were handed to Letran without much of a fight, while Benilde struggled to rack up points of their own. Letran snatched set four on a dominating 25-15 score.
In the deciding set, both teams were in full force, and long rallies kept everyone on edge as neither team was willing to give an inch. A block from Leonilyn Padilla and Nitura placed Letran at set point, followed by a service ace from Sarie to close out set five, securing a hard-fought victory 15-10.
Letran is set to face the EAC Generals and Lady Generals this Friday, February 27, at the San Andres Sports Complex, Manila.