Lady Blazers cap miracle NCAA title run

St. Benilde Lady Blazers, the new NCAA Champions. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Completing its unbelievable climb to the top, St. Benilde shocked the once-unshakeable San Sebastian, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, to bag its first NCAA women’s volleyball crown yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena.

The trio of Janine Navarro, Ranya Musa and Finals MVP Jeanette Panaga again came to the fore in the historic run that saw the Lady Blazers climb from the No. 4 spot and deal the top-seeded Lady Stags their only losses in the Finals series.

“This is a testament that our players never give up no matter how hard [the situation],” said St. Benilde coach Macky Cariño.

Navarro poured in all of her 18 points on attacks to lead the Lady Blazers, who overcame the thrice-to-beat advantage of the Lady Stags in the title series.

The Lady Stags, bannered by two-time MVP Gretchel Soltones, earned the bonus after completing a 9-0 sweep of the eliminations.

Musa, whose hit off the block sealed the match, tallied 13 kills and four blocks for a 17-point finish, while the consistently solid Panaga tossed in 16 points.

“They really fought for their school,” said Cariño after his Lady Blazers took the series, 3-1. “They gave their all.”

Showing the same grit that propelled them to the Finals, the Lady Blazers took the opening frame, 25-22, before dominating early in the second set, 20-12.