NCAA: San Beda stays perfect, hands CSB its first loss in women’s volley

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda stood as the last unbeaten team after turning back College of St. Benilde, 25-6, 25-13, 24-26, 25-23, in the NCAA Season 89 women’s volleyball tournament Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan.

Janine Marciano fired 24 points, including a tournament-best nine service aces and the game-clinching point, as the Lady Red Spikers padded onto their best start at 5-0 since fielding in a women’s volleyball squad in 2007.

“They played superb at the start the movement was good,” said San Beda coach Jeorge Sucaldito in Filipino, whose team handed CSB its first loss in five starts.

“But in the third set the team became complacent and fortunately in the fourth set we were able to recover.”

San Beda overcame a 13-18 deficit in the fourth set with St. Benilde helping them out with unforced errors.

Later, Lyceum ended a four-game losing skid at the expense of Jose Rizal University, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18 behind Jhemil Abadilla’s 16 hits.

With the win, the Lady Pirates tied the Lady Bombers at 1-4.

Ces Molina tallied 27 hits with four blocks while Robey Remigio had 27 excellent sets for the Lady Red Spikers, who pounced on the Lady Blazers’ poor reception early as they led, 17-0, in the opening set.