College of St. Benilde destroyed University of Perpetual Help, 25-14, 25-18, 25-7, to move on the verge of sweeping the elimination round and seizing an outright finals berth in NCAA women’s volleyball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena on Wednesday, May 1.

The Lady Blazers didn’t leave any stone unturned in overpowering the Lady Blazers and claiming their eighth victory in as many outings, or one short of sweeping the elims and making the best-of-three finals for the third season in a row via the same route.

To accomplish it, CSB would need to overcome the final hurdle to its three-peat feat quest -- last year’s finals opponent Lyceum of the Philippines University -- in a showdown that could be a sneak preview to this season’s finale.

Michelle Gamit used her spiking prowess to the hilt and fired a match-high 13 points including 12 on kills while Zamantha Nolasco and team captain Jessa Dorog crushed it by chipping in 11 and 10 hits, respectively.

Apart from staying perfect this year, CSB has also extended its victorious streak to 37 straight wins that started in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Jerry Yee-mentored Lady Blazers was as equally explosive in offense as it was in defense after a nearly impenetrable blocking with Nolasco’s four blocks leading the way and a rock-solid floor defense with Dorog coming through with eight digs and as many receptions.

So locked in was CSB that none from UPHSD finished in double figures with last year’s MVP awardee Mary Rhose Dapol spearheading the Lady Altas with just nine points.

UPHSD fell to 4-3 and in a three-way logjam with Mapua and Arellano for that fourth and last semis spot.
LPU was at No. 2 with a 6-1 record while Letran at No. 3 with a 5-2 mark.