De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde handed the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA its first loss in the NCAA Season 100 women's volleyball tournament with a straight sets victory, 25-16, 25-22, 25-18, on Saturday at the Emilio Aguinaldo Sports and Cultural Center in Manila.
The early part of the third set saw the two teams on a tight affair as Benilde led 7-6. However, the Lady Blazers managed to pull away 11-6 before the Lady Altas caught up with three straight points. The Taft-based squad answered with its own run to take a 13-9 lead, until the gap widened, 19-12, as the Lady Blazers relied on their composure and championship experience against the team from Las Piñas.
Eventually, Perpetual found it hard to recover against the Lady Blazers as efforts from Clydel Catarig, Zam Nolasco, and Wielyn Estoque sealed the victory.
Estoque had 17 points from 14 points and three blocks, while veteran Mycah Go had 13 points. Catarig and Nolasco, meanwhile, had 12 points apiece. Chenae Basarte had all of Benilde's 20 excellent sets.
"Mas lumaban lang kami, mas tinapangan namin, and lumaban kami nang may puso ngayon," Estoque said as the Lady Blazers got their fourth straight victory to improve to 7-1.
The erstwhile undefeated Lady Altas were found in possibly their most challenging match yet this season as no player scored in double digits. Rookie Jem Menor had seven points, while Winnie Bedaña, Shai Omipon, and Pau Reyes had six points each as Perpetual slipped to 6-1.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
