Benilde earns payback vs. Letran to regain top spot in NCAA women's volleyball
By BEA MICALLER,GMA Integrated News
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde gained a measure of revenge against its first-round tormentor Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18, in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Lady Blazers once again leaned on the tandem of Zam Nolasco and Cristy Ondangan to escape the Lady Knights in four sets as the three-time defending champions regained the top spot at 13-2. Letran still holds the second spot with a 13-3 card.
Nolasco led the show with 17 points anchored on 11 attacks and six blocks while Ondangan chipped in 14 markers as they avenged their previous sweep loss to the Lady Knights.
"Nagre-relax 'yung mga bata nu'ng third set pero pagdating naman ng fourth set naayos naman namin," Benilde head coach Onyok Getigan said.
"'Yun (top spot) naman talaga 'yung target namin so 'yung susunod naming games malaking bagay if manalo kami kasi tataas 'yung kumpiyansa ng mga bata."
Down two sets, Letran mounted a comeback in the third set by turning a slim 8-7 lead to a 16-7 cushion after a series of attack errors from the side of Benilde. Another attack error from them sent Letran to the set point, 24-13, before the Lady Blazers unleashed a 4-0 run.
Nicen Colendra then dropped the hammer to finish the third frame and force a fourth set, 25-17. In that set, Benilde committed nine errors, paving the way for the extension.
But Benilde returned to its old ways in the fourth with team captain Mycah Go serving an ace to build a 13-10 lead while Rhea Densing sent them to a 16-11 cushion.
Benilde even made it a 20-12 separation before a Nolasco quick attack brought the four-peat seeking Lady Blazers to a 23-14 advantage. Densing finished it off by breaking the block of Judiel Nitura and Royce Dela Cruz to extend Benilde's win streak to six.
Shahanna Lleses and Densing supplied the support with 10 points each while veteran Go had an all-around outing of eight points, 18 digs, and nine receptions.
Vanessa Sarie, who was coming off a historic 37-point outing against Arellano last Friday, finished with 16 points laced with eight digs and 17 receptions while Nitura dropped 10 markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
11-07-2025
- GMA Network
NU averts collapse, ousts top seed Letran in FilOil preseason tiff
National University nearly wasted a double-digit lead, but still managed to pull off a 79-77 upset win against NCAA top seed Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 18th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Friday. The Bulldogs, who ended the elimination round at the fourth spot in the UAAP side of the bracket, advanced to the semifinals where they fill face either University of Santo Tomas or Emilio Aguinaldo College. The returning Jake Figueroa marked his comeback from a two-game absence with 21 points, six rebounds, four steals, and and one assist while Jolo Manansala chipped in 16 markers, six boards, and three dimes to help turn back a gutsy comeback from the Knights. Letran unleashed a third quarter uprising, erasing a 14-point deficit thanks to a 21-11 rampage that allowed the Knights to pull within four before heading to the payoff period, 64-60. But the Bulldogs roared to another 14-point cushion after an Omar John jumper for a 75-61 advantage. The Knights, though, turned to a rookie in Luiz Tapenio in their last desperate comeback attempt. The young forward split a free throw before scoring an and-one basket that cut Letran's deficit to three, 74-77. Deo Cuajao then made a crucial three-pointer that made it a one-point ballgame at 77-78 before Figueroa sank one of his two freebies to give NU enough cushion in the last three seconds. Jonathan Manalili had the chance to make another basket but the incoming rookie lost the ball in the last possession. Manalili paced Letran with an all-around outing of 18 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and two steals while Kevin Santos and Deo Cuajao both churned out 14 markers in the losing cause. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
07-07-2025
- GMA Network
FilOil: Benilde averts collapse in one-point escape vs. EAC, nears top seed
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde nearly wasted a double-digit lead, but hung tough to escape Emilio Aguinaldo College, 86-85, in the 18th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Sunday. Without Allen Liwag and Justine Sanchez, veteran guard Tony Ynot led the way with 17 points laced with two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block to help the Blazers pull off the victory despite almost squandering a huge 17-point cushion. Jhomel Ancheta sent Benilde to a 72-55 lead late in the third period, but the Generals turned to EJ Castillo in the fightback that saw them pulling within the in the fourth, 81-84, thanks to four straight baskets from the rookie sensation. Castillo followed those up with another stepback jumper before Jacob Shanoda sank a pair of free throws off a foul he drew from Raffy Celis to further trim the gap to a solitary point, 85-86, with 53 seconds left in the game. EAC had a chance to win it, but Nico Quinal missed a last-gasp three-pointer attempt as Benilde held on to take its second win in a row. Benilde improved to 7-1 and could secure the top seed if it wins over Lyceum of the Philippines University (1-7) on Wednesday and if Colegio de San Juan de Letran (7-1) loses to San Beda University (4-4). In another game, graduating Yukien Andrada displayed his veteran presence in leading San Beda to a 76-70 win against the struggling Lyceum. The 6-foot-5 forward almost had a double-double outing of 21 points and nine rebounds while also getting ample help from Agjanti Miller and Nygel Gonzales. New recruit Miller posted a double-double performance of 14 points and 12 rebounds while Gonzales chipped in 13 markers, seven assists, and two boards as the also-ran Red Lions look to end their campaign on a high note. Aside from Benilde, Letran, and EAC, Arellano University is also among the NCAA teams heading to the FilOil quarterfinals while La Salle, UST, UP, and NU make up the UAAP bracket. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- GMA Network
Andrew Estrella is new Letran Squires head coach
NCAA Andrew Estrella is the new head coach of the Colegio de San Juan Letran Squires. Estrella will replace Willie Miller who steered the Squires to a Final Four run in NCAA Season 100. Estrella handled the UE Junior Warriors U16 team in the past two seasons and delivered the title in UAAP U16 boys basketball last December. "I'm incredibly thankful to Letran and Strong Group Athletics for this chance to lead the Squires," Estrella said in a statement. "Thank you to Fr. Raymond [Jose, OP], Fr. Vic, Boss Frank, and Boss Jacob for believing in me. I'll give my best and make sure not to let anyone down." Despite his new responsibility as a head coach, Estrella will still be serving in the University of the East. "I may have a new home with Letran, but there are no goodbyes," he said. "I'll still be consulting for UE. UE helped shape who I am as a coach, and I'll always be grateful for that." Joining Estrella in UE are Anton Escolin, JC Docto, and Kris Reyes, with Bryan Cay as strength and conditioning and Julianne Valencia as physical therapist. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
