GAMES TODAY
(EAC Sports and Cultural Center)
11 a.m. – Lyceum vs. San Sebastian
1 p.m. – Arellano vs. JRU
LETRAN regained its winning ways in the 100th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament yesterday, keeping San Beda winless with a 22-25, 25-18, 25-13, 25-16 victory at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Sports and Cultural Center in Manila.
Rookie Vanessa Sarie had a near triple-double of 21 points, 10 digs and eight excellent receptions as the Lady Knights, last year’s losing finalists, rose 6-1.
Opposite spiker Judiel Nitura also sizzled in the Lady Knights’ offense with 17 points while setter Nat Estreller dished out 21 excellent sets and six points off two service aces, two kill blocks and two attacks.
Earlier, reigning champion College of Saint Benilde thwarted the EAC Lady Generals in their home court with a commanding 25-14, 25-12, 25-13 triumph.
The four-peat seeking Lady Blazers rolled to their third consecutive win with wing spiker Wielyn Estoque and middle blocker Zam Nolasco shining with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
With the win that came in just 55 minutes, Benilde improved to 6-1 in a tie with Letran while EAC dropped to 1-6 after absorbing its fourth consecutive loss.
Cara Dayanan was the lone bright spot for the Lady Generals with 12 points, while Elizza Alimen scored nine.
The win was a morale boost for the Intramuros-based crew, which lost to Arellano University last Friday.
“It’s a good bounce back game for us, especially San Beda pa iyong kalaban. Sabi ko nga, you don’t have to prove, but you have to improve. So ayun iyong mantra namin today, for the next weeks practices, we have to improve,” Letran mentor Oliver Almadro said.
“Iyon iyong laging nasa mind-set namin, to improve more kasi mahaba pa ang NCAA. Hindi rito natatapos. Cohesiveness pa rin, teamwork, at higit sa lahat iyong faith kay God na we just do our part and the Lord will always be there to lead our path,” Almadro added.
San Beda had 33 unforced errors and remained the lone team without a win in the tourney after seven matches.
