St. Benilde’s Klarisa Abriam soars for a kill against San Beda’s Satrriani Espiritu. —SHERWIN VARDELEON
Perpetual and St. Benilde finally scored breakthrough wins after besting separate opponents on Thursday night in the women’s division of the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Altas edged the San Sebastian Lady Stags, 25-15, 19-25, 27-25, 27-25, before the Lady Blazers nipped the depleted San Beda Red Spikers, 21-25, 26-24, 25-8, 25-23.
With the victories, the Lady Altas and the Lady Blazers boosted their respective chances for berths in the semifinals.
The win, their first in three starts, provided a flicker of hope for the Lady Blazers who are trying to regain their championship form after winning the NCAA title for the first time in 2016.
But it didn’t come easily for St. Benilde as it groped for form in the first frame and scrambled to finish off the Lady Red Spikers after losing a 22-16 lead in the fourth set.
Benilde and Perpetual are in fifth place, with the top four to advance.
St. Benilde coach Jerry Yee, taking the helm for the first time after leaving the University of the Philippines, pointed out many things lacking in his new charges, specifically their killer instinct.
“I’m not confident yet. I still have a lot to work on,” Yee said in Filipino.
Marites Pablo topscored for the Lady Blazers with 16 points, while Klarisa Abriam added 15.
San Beda missed the services of team captain Cesca Racraquin due to a appraised ankle and leaned heavily on Nieza Viray who tallied 19 points.