Benilde opens SSL Batangas Leg with dominant win

St. Benilde Blazers in action during the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Batangas Leg. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —  St. Benilde made quick work of University of Batangas, 25-8, 25-17, 25-15, for a rousing start in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Batangas Leg on Friday at the University of Batangas Millennium Gym.

Rhea Densing led the Lady Blazers’ assault as the reigning four-time NCAA champions took advantage of their experience and firepower to dominate the Lady Brahmans in the Luzon stop of the tournament.

Benilde was in full control right from the opening serve, raining down 36 kills while frustrating UB’s hitters with its solid net defense to score nine kill blocks.         

Densing finished with 12 points, built on 10 kills and two blocks for the Lady Blazers.

READ: FEU Lady Tamaraws eye strong showing in SSL Batangas leg

Middle blocker Zamantha Nolasco scored four of her 11 points from kill blocks and Shahanna Lleses added 10 points for St Benilde  ahead of a rematch against rival Letran on Saturday.

“The players are in good shape since they just came from another league, so their conditioning is still there,” said Lady Blazers assistant coach Onyok Getigan, who stepped for head coach Jerry Yee.

With the Lady Blazers the starters building strong leads in each set, Getigan was able to rotate in players from the bench.

“I told the girls to keep doing what they’re doing so we could slowly sub in the rookies. That’s part of our goal—to give others some exposure before the NCAA season starts,” he added.

Benilde got a scare in the third set after UB closed in, 19-15, but was quick to restore order with a closing 6-0 run capped by back-to-back hits by Fionna Innocentes.      

Riza Drice was the only Lady Brahmans player to finish double figures with 10 points off eight attacks and two aces. Kylie Macatangay and Stephanie Almaria had four and three markers, respectively.

UB lost open hitter Jaimee Bacolod after spraining her right ankle in the second set following an awkward landing off a jump serve. 

Meanwhile, Far Eastern University quelled a third-set uprising by Letran for a 25-13, 25-17, 25-21.

Team captain and main setter Tin Ubaldo steadied FEU with her veteran presence to fend off the Lady Knights’ fightback and secure an opening day win.

“We follow one system, but the in-game adjustments really depend on the players,” said Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak. “We had a good start, but we were a bit off in the third set because of the mix of players on the court.”

Clarisse Loresco led FEU’s balanced scoring as the Alas Pilipinas member finished with 11 points on her return to her natural position as middle blocker. 

Loresco, who plays opposite spiker with the national team, hammered seven spikes, three kill blocks and an ace.

Faida Bakanke got 10 points while Ia David, Alyzza Devosora and Gerzel Petallo scored five each. Ubaldo tallied eight excellent sets in just two sets of action off the bench for the Lady Tamaraws, who will battle University of Batangas next.

Letran trimmed down FEU’s five-point lead in the closing stretch of the third set to just two, 23-21, after a Verenicce Colendra hit.

David countered with a kill before Colendra committed the last of the Lady Knights’ 21 errors to hand last year’s runner-up FEU the win.

Colendra and Gia Maquilang finished with 10 apiece for Letran, which will take on NCAA rival College of Saint Benilde in Day 2.