BY ABBY TORALBA
COLLEGE of St. Benilde clobbered Perpetual Help 25-14, 25-18, 25-7 yesterday to move within a win of an eliminations sweep and an outright finals berth in the 99th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The Lady Blazers displayed unwavering intensity in overpowering the Lady Altas for their eighth victory in as many outings, a victory short of making it to the best-of-three finals for the third season in a row.
CSB needs to overcome the final hurdle to its three-peat quest–last year’s finals opponent Lyceum–in a Sunday showdown that could be a sneak preview of this season’s finale.
Later, San Beda University sent Jose Rizal University packing with a 17-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 15-5 decision.
Michelle Gamit used her spiking prowess to the hilt and fired a match-high 13 points, including 12 kills, while Zamantha Nolasco and team captain Jessa Dorog crushed it by chipping in 11 and 10 hits, respectively.
Apart from staying perfect this year, CSB extended its victorious streak to 37 straight wins that started in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
The Jerry Yee-mentored Lady Blazers were equally impressive in defense, with Nolasco’s four blocks leading the way and a rock-solid floor defense with Dorog coming through with eight digs and as many receptions.
So locked in was CSB that no Perpetual player finished in double figures, with last year’s MVP awardee Mary Rhose Dapol spearheading the Lady Altas with just nine points.
UPHSD fell to 4-3 and in a three-way logjam with Mapua and Arellano U for the fourth and last semis spot.
Lyceum was at No. 2 with a 6-1 record while Letran at No. 3 with a 5-2 mark.
