Lady Blazers secure No. 3

FILE – St. Benilde Lady Blazers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Defending champion College of St. Benilde trampled on San Beda, 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-18, Friday to secure the No. 3 seeding in the NCAA women’s volleyball semifinals at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The two teams will clash anew on Monday in the stepladder Final Four, playing for the right to face No. 2 ranked Arellano, which will have a twice-to-beat edge.

“We needed this win to raise the morale of the players,” said CSB coach Macky Carino.

In juniors action, Perpetual drubbed Arellano, 25-18, 25-23, 25-14, to remain in the hunt for a back-to-back title.

Paul Solamin topscored with 14 points for the Junior Altas, who arranged a duel against the Emilio Aguinaldo Brigadiers in the second stepladder game.

In men’s action, top seed CSB scored a 25-21, 25-23, 25-14 win over Perpetual and will take on Arellano in the semifinals.