De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde had a shaky start, but regrouped early to sweep Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 25-21, 25-15, 25-14 in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament finals on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Lady Blazers have also extended their winning-streak to 39, moving a win away from a historic and the school’s first-ever three-peat title.
The Taft crew saw itself down in a 20-18 hole in the opening frame but the Lady Blazers unloaded a massive 5-0 run capped by a Jessa Dorog ace before Zam Nolasco took advantage of an overpass to seal it.
It was not the case in Set 2 as Benilde quickly mounted a huge gap thanks to a 6-0 blast that sent them to a sizable 20-13 cushion. Back-to-back attacks from the graduating middle blocker Mich Gamit allowed Benilde to take a commanding 2-0 lead, 25-15.
Showing no mercy, Benilde widened the gap to as much as 13 points in the third frame with Dorog’s two consecutive attacks bringing them to a 17-4 advantage.
Zam Nolasco sent them to the match point at 24-12, but the Lady Knights responded with a desperate 3-0 run. It was then a one-two play from alternate setter Chenae Basarte that finished the deal for Benilde.
The twin towers of Benilde in Gamit and Nolasco asserted their dominance with 14 and 12 points apiece while Gayle Pascual put together 14 markers as well.
Dorog hammered out an all-around outing of nine points on top of 13 digs and five receptions.
Only rookie Gia Maquilang was in double digit for the Lady Knights with her 10 points alongside seven receptions.
Benilde will look to clinch its third straight and fourth overall crown come Game 2 on Sunday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
