The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Lady Blazers and Benilde Blazers steamrolled the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates on Sunday, May 5, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. The Lady Blazers escaped the tight contest against the Lady Pirates, 3-2, while the Blazers swept the Pirates, 3-0.
The ladies in green and white were first to battle it out on the court against the ladies in red and silver. However, the Lady Pirates’ outside hitter, Johna Dolorito, took command of the first set to sweep the Lady Blazers, 21-25. The second set was more favorable to the Taft squad as they unleashed multiple service aces against the Lady Pirates. The Benilde trio of opposite hitter Gayle Pascual, middle-blocker Mich Gamit, and team captain Jessa Dorog did not allow their opponents to have a lead in the set, 25-21.
On the other hand, the tide of the third set went in favor of the ladies in red and silver. Janeth Tulang and Hiromi Osada of the Lady Pirates navigated their way to secure the set, 20-25. The Taft squad regained their composure in the fourth set led by Gamit and middle-blocker Zamantha Nolasco. Their laurel-adorned opponent outside hitter Joan Doguna closed the two-point lead of the Lady Blazers. Concurrently, outside hitter Wielyn Estoque suffered an ankle-injury in the courtside. Outside hitter Corrine Apostol substituted for Estoque and secured the winning point for the set, 25-21, forcing a fifth set.
The ladies in green and white are in a tight spot with the threat of losing their 36-game win streak since Season 97. The final set saw the explosive chemistry of Gamit, Pascual, and Dorog, igniting a 4-0 run, bannered by sharp attacks and hard hitting spikes towards their red and silver-donned opponents, 15-7. The Lady Blazers secured a trip back to finals after escaping a nail-biter game against the Lady Pirates, 3-2.
Up next, the men in green and white were next to unleash a broadside of volleys against the men in red and silver. The Benilde Blazers came out firing in the opening set as they dominated the Pirates headed by opposite Leonard Jaboli, who nailed several attacks through the LPU defense. The men in red and silver responded with thunderous spikes of their own, however it was not enough to contain the Taft squad, 25-19.
The victorious momentum of the Benilde Blazers continued into the second set, as they successfully pacified the attacks from Pirates’ team captain Jun Edang. Benilde’s Jaboli and Harold Marasigan staged a clean 6-0 run, to end the set, 25-18.
In the final set, the Blazers fought intensely with Marasigan leading the way. The rest of the Benilde team made sure to chip in as middle-blockers Mike Balbacal and Carlo Tero defended the front line, ensuring a 10-point lead in the set. The men in green and white steamrolled the Pirates with their first clean sweep of the tournament, 3-0.
The Lady Blazers will wait on their opponent as the tournament shifts into a step-ladder format, while the Benilde Blazers strengthen their bid to advance in the next round of the tournament.
The schedules of the succeeding games are yet to be determined.
Set Scores:
Lady Blazers vs Lady Pirates: 21-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 15-7
Blazers vs Pirates: 25-19, 25-18, 25-14
