Colegio de San Juan de Letran dug deep and grinded out a gritty 15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12 Game 3 win to end the four-year reign of the College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball Finals at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila Friday, April 10.

Verenicce Colendra rose as an unlikely hero while Vanessa Sarie and Gia Maquilang provided the support as they delivered the timely hits that put the Lady Knights ahead after turning a back-and-forth affair into a 14-12 breakaway in the fifth set.

Zam Nolasco poured it all by keeping the Lady Blazers within striking distance, but their efforts weren’t enough as Sarie and Colendra connived in the final stretch before Joralyn Panangin threw the dagger off a service ace to help Letran win its first title -- ninth overall -- after failing to win it in the last two seasons.

Benilde, for its part, failed to complete a rare five-peat feat, keeping San Sebastian and Letran as the only schools to achieve it in the distaff side of the grand old league.

It was a full-circle moment for debutant coach Mayeth Carolino, a former Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards winner, as she was part of her alma mater’s last championship way back in 1998 (Season 74).

“Sobrang saya na ito po ‘yong lagi naming pinagpipray na makuha, ‘di namin ‘to makukuha sa mga coaches and staff… sobrang saya namin sa mga players ko you made history,” said Carolino, who took this year's Coach of the Year.

Though Colendra impressed off the bench with 23 points off 21 attacks, one block, and one ace, it was Judiel Nitura, sister of Adamson star Shai in the UAAP, who was named as Finals MVP.

“Sobrang saya na ibinigay samin ‘to, naniwala lang kami sa mga coaches, ‘di namin ‘to magagawa kung dahil sa kanila pati narin sa mga dating coaches namin, nagkaroon kami ng growth, pati ‘yong pagpasok ni coach Mayeth sobrang ganda,” said Nitura.

“Kasi talagang pinagtrabahuhan namin ‘to and ‘di namin sasayanging ‘tong pagkakataong ‘to kung ‘di namin kaya,” added Nitura, who finished with eight points after listing nine and 21 points in Games 2 and 1, respectively.

Colendra and Sarie paced Letran offensively with 23 and 19 points, while Maquilang posted a triple-double effort off 17 points, 17 receptions and 13 digs.

Nolasco played her heart out after listing 27 points, while Clydel Catarig and Shekainah Lleses chipped 17 and 12 points, which all went down the drain as Benilde’s five-peat dream shattered.