The De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Lady Blazers closed out their final elimination game with a complete 3-0 domination over the Mapúa University (MU) Lady Cardinals, while the Benilde Blazers suffered an opposite fate against the Mapúa Cardinals, 0-3, today, March 11, at San Andres Sports Center Sports Complex in Manila City.
The Lady Blazers opened the match with the commanding aura of the great wall of Taft as Camila Bartolome and Clydel Catarig anchored the defense and powered early points for the squad. Despite Mapúa keeping the game close, key plays from Zam Nolasco prevented the Lady Cardinals from gaining full control. The Taft squad seized the first set with a service ace from Shekinah Lleses, 25-19.
The women in green and white continued their command of the Taraflex in the second frame as Cristy Ondangan opened the set with a service ace. Benilde gradually pulled away behind Nolasco, who extended the lead with crucial points, while the Taft squad unleashed a run highlighted by solid block defense at the net. Mapúa attempted to close the gap with a late push, but the Lady Blazers remained persistent, sealing the set with an eight-point advantage, 25–17.
In the final canto, the challengers in red and gold struggled to keep pace as the Lady Blazers unleashed a dominant 8–0 run, sparked by back-to-back points from Nolasco and reinforced by the offense of Fiona Inocentes. The women in green and white continued to pull away, capitalizing on Mapúa’s errors to widen the gap. Benilde made quick work of the Cardinals, eventually sealing their final elimination round game with a service ace from Francis Flores, 25–10.
Next in the spotlight, the Benilde Blazers traded errors with the Mapúa Cardinals in a tightly contested first set. Rocky Motol and John Estrada sparked the Taft offense to build an early lead, but Mapúa’s Saint Jamisola answered with crucial points to tie the game. The men in green and white attempted to widen the gap with contributions from Alvinnazher Sulayman, yet the consistent offense of the Cardinals, led by Arjay Ramos, pushed the red and gold squad ahead to take the set, 25–23.
In the following frame, Sulayman opened strongly for Benilde, but Ramos continued to deliver offensive points for Mapúa to keep the Cardinals ahead. Taking advantage of Benilde’s errors, the red and gold squad with John Galicia’s offense slowly built momentum throughout the set. Despite a late run from the Blazers, Mapúa held firm and closed out the second set to take a commanding lead.
In the final set, the Blazers kept their hopes alive as Paul Jordan sparked the offense while Motol delivered back-to-back points to push Benilde ahead. John Austero also stepped up with timely plays, but Mapúa’s Adrian Musni and Ramos continued to answer with powerful hits, engaging in a scoring exchange with Motol. In the end, Ramos delivered the finishing blow as the Cardinals closed the set, handing the men in green and white a 25–22 defeat.
Nolasco tallied 15 points on 13 attacks and three blocks as they closed the elimination rounds earning Player of the Game honors.
The Benilde Blazers and Lady Blazers booked their quarterfinal play-ins on March 17 at the same venue with a live telecast on Heart of Asia and the NCAA Philippines Facebook and YouTube pages.
Set Scores
Lady Blazers: 25-19, 25-17, 25-10
Blazers: 23-25, 19-25, 22-25
