Blazers sweep Altas for first NCAA volleyball title

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

College of St. Benilde took home its first ever championship in the NCAA after sweeping Perpetual Help in the Season 92 men’s volleyball finals Tuesday at San Juan Arena.

The Blazers came away with five-set stunner, 25-12, 21-25, 17-25, 25-14, 18-16, to claim their best finish since winning the silver medal in Season 90.

Season MVP Johnvic De Guzman tied the fifth set at 16-16 before Francis Basilan scored an off-the-block kill to give the Blazers a 17-16 lead.

Then Isaah Arda followed it up with his own off-the-block kill that bounced off Ronniel Rosales for the title-clinching point.

“I saw it in them that determination to win the championship,” said Blazers head coach Arnold Laniog, who himself is an alumni of Benilde. “I can feel that whenever we’re in a crucial spot, my players have that confidence, they’re confident and they can deliver.”

“Before it was us coaches who would push them to their limit, but now they themselves are the ones doing it.”

De Guzman was a man on a mission for Benilde as he put up a game-high 28 points while Owen Bacani and Mark Deximo combined for 23.

Rey Taneo Jr. led the former champion Altas with 19 points while Esmail Kasim added 10.