COLLEGE of Saint Benilde fended off Mapua University yesterday, scoring a 25-16, 25-22, 25-20 victory for its third straight victory in the V-League Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Lady Blazers used a decisive 7-0 run in the third set o pull away at 23-13 then Zam Nolasco and Clydel Catarig delivered the last two points to cut short the Lady Cardinals’ one final push anchored on Roxie dela Cruz as the former stayed at the coattails of the idle joint leaders and semifinalists Far Eastern U and University of the East, which tote 5-0 slates.
“Slow start na naman kami. Ayaw lang din namin na marami kaming errors, pero so far so good naman ‘yung laro,” said Saint Benilde assistant coach Jay Chua. “Nakapag-focus talaga at sana magtuluy-tuloy ang magandang performance ng mga bata.”
Defense also spiked the NCAA back-to-back champions’ romp as they finished with 15 blocks, including five each from Nolasco and Gayle Pascual even as playmaker and skipper Clo Mondoñedo came up with 12 excellent sets.
Dela Cruz scored 10 points, including four aces late in the third, while Raisa Ricablanca backed her up with nine markers, for Mapua, which fell to 1-3.
In the other women’s encounter, Mary Rose Dapol showed her MVP form and led University of Perpetual Help to a 25-27, 25-14, 25-22, 25-19 win over Enderun Colleges.
Dapol peppered the Lady Titans’ defense with 26 points as the Lady Altas stayed in fourth place with three wins against two defeats.
With the last two semis seats still up for grabs, Perpetual head coach Sandy Rieta underscored the need for the Lady Altas to work hard, saying, “Pag-aaralan namin ‘yung next game muna, ‘yung strategy kung paano manalo every game.”
Dapol finished with 22 kills and four service aces while team captain Razel Aldea added 13 markers on 11 attacks and two blocks.
Erika Jin Deloria posted a 20-point explosion, while Althea Botor added 14 markers for Enderun, which dropped to 1-3 in a tie with Mapua.
