At A Glance
- Reigning champion College of St. Benilde flexed its might and scored a 25-18, 26-24, 25-21 win over Perpetual to clinch its fifth consecutive finals berth in the NCAA Season 101 women's volleyball tournament at the San Andres Gym in Manila Wednesday, March 25.
CSB Lady Blazers (GMA/NCAA Images)
Reigning champion College of St. Benilde flexed its might and scored a 25-18, 26-24, 25-21 win over Perpetual to clinch its fifth consecutive finals berth in the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball tournament at the San Andres Gym in Manila Wednesday, March 25.
Following a tight five-set Game 1 showdown, the Lady Blazers fended off late rallies from the Lady Altas in the first two sets before holding firm on a 21-18 lead in the third where rookie standout Camila Bartolome and Zam Nolasco delivered the finishing blows.
The victory earned CSB another finals appearance since joining the grand old league in Season 83 (2008). They also became the latest school to achieve such a feat after the Roger Gorayeb-mentored San Sebastian Lady Stags who enjoyed a succesful stretch in the mid-2000s.
Benilde also has a potential third straight Finals clash against Letran which goes for a clincher against archrival San Beda in Game 2 as of posting.
Perpetual, on the other hand, continues its decade-long drought as it now faces either Letran or San Beda for third-place honor.
Bartolome stood out anew for the Jerry Yee-guided crew with 22 points off 16 attacks, three blocks, and three aces, while Nolasco and Clydel Catarig contributed 11 and nine points, respectively. Shahanna Lleses added eight points.
Shaila Omipon topscored for Perpetual with 10 points, finishing as their lone double-digit scorer. Charisse Enrico and Cyrille Almenian chipped in seven points apiece in a losing effort.