College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers. NCAA PHOTO
Reigning NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde and Perpetual Help turned back separate foes with authority Friday to take a piece of the early lead in the V-League Collegiate Challenge. with coach Jerry Yee still looking for improvements from his Lady Blazers despite a 25-19, 25-20, 25-13 thumping of Lyceum.
“We found some bright spots and found some problems [in our game] that we need to address,” Yee said after St. Benilde was dragged to close shaves in the first two sets by the Lady Pirates at Paco Arena in Manila. “We’re happy that we got the win and that most of the players performed well.”
Middle blocker Zam Nolasco dominated at the front and came away with 12 points on nine spikes and three blocks, including three straight hits in the Lady Blazers’ second-set pull-away.
Clydel Catarig and Corrine Apostol added eight points apiece for the Lady Blazers, who wrapped the victory with a 5-1 spurt spiked by two straight quick kills by Mich Gamit.
The Lady Altas were also unrelenting in pulling out a 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 victory over San Sebastian in the other women’s match as reigning NCAA MVP Mary Rose Dapol poured in 16 points built off 14 attacks in the one-hour game.
Charmaine Ocado scattered 11 points for Perpetual, while Winnie Bedaña added seven points.
The Lady Stags kept themselves in the fight behind Kat Santos and Tina Marasigan, who wound up with nine points each, while former UE setter Von Dimaculangan debuted for San Sebastian.
Meanwhile, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta used a strong finish to quell San Beda, 25-14, 25-17, 25-22, and notch a second straight win in men’s play earlier.