Lady Blazers knock out Lady Altas; Lions thru

SAINT Benilde’s Djanel Cheng battles Perpetual Help’s Coleen Bravo and Christine Lim at the net in yesterday’s knockout match. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Janine Navarro and Ranya Musa came up big when it mattered as fourth-ranked St. Benilde rose from a set down to upset Perpetual Help, 16-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-21, Tuesday and advance in the stepladder semifinals of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

“We survived the first test,” said St. Benilde coach Macky Cariño after his Lady Blazers ousted the third-seeded Lady Altas.

Navarro fired 13 of her 15 points off attacks, while Musa—who combined with Jeanette Panaga for all of the Lady Blazers’ 11 blocks —also tossed in 15 points.

St. Benilde takes on defending champion Arellano next in another knockout match, with the winner battling San Sebastian for the title.

The Lady Stags earned an outright finals berth and a thrice-to-beat incentive after completing a 9-0 sweep of the eliminations.

In men’s action, San Beda clinched the last semifinal berth after tripping Arellano in a 25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 decision.

Mark Christian Enciso fired 19 points to lead the Red Lions, who will face defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College in the Final Four.

The Generals earlier tripped the Altas, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19, in a playoff for the No. 1 spot after the two teams finished the elimination round with similar 8-1 cards.

Howard Mojica, poised to claim his second MVP, fired 30 points for the Generals.

Despite the loss, the Altas hold a twice-to beat edge over No. 3 Blazers in the Final Four.

Perpetual Help secured the juniors top seed with a 25-18, 27-25, 17-25, 25-13 win over EAC. The Altalettes next tackle the Staglets, who nailed the last semifinal seat with a 25-16, 28-26, 20-25, 21-25, 15-11 win over Lyceum.