INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian and Letran moved on the threshold of retaining their NCAA volleyball titles Sunday by pulling off five-set victories over separate rivals at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym.

The Lady Stags came from behind to outlast the St. Benilde Lady Blazers, 20-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19 16-14, in Game 1 of the women?s finals, while the Knights, with Peter Pirante delivering the crucial hits, nipped San Beda, 25-23, 17-25, 11-25, 25-23, 19-17, in the men?s finals.

In juniors? play, Perpetual Help stunned San Sebastian, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20 to also move within a victory of the title.

San Sebastian, Letran and Perpetual Help can wrap up the titles with victories on Thursday also at the EAC Gym.

Analyn Benito fired 22 points, while Margarita Pepito contributed 15 points to help the Lady Stags, who scored a remarkable 19 points off service aces, stay on track of a fifth consecutive crown.

San Sebastian actually rallied from 2-8 down in the final set behind Benito, whose two kills sealed the victory.

St. Benilde went into the game with a 2-1 head-to-head edge over San Sebastian this season, but the Lady Blazers, who have finished runner-up to the Lady Stags the past two years, were undone by 37 errors.

Pirante peppered the Lions with 25 hits, winning his duel with national team player and San Beda star Sylvester Honrade, who finished with 21 points.

The Knights, who are gunning for a third straight title, completed the victory in two hours and five minutes after Renz Ordonez struck a service ace.