The finals of the NCAA Season 101 Women’s Volleyball Tournament begin on Sunday, April 5, and it will be the third consecutive meeting between the Benilde Lady Blazers and the Letran Lady Knights. The question is: which team has the advantage?
A Quick Look Back of Letran vs. Benilde
Before diving in, a brief recap of the first two meetings is in order.
In Season 99, the Lady Blazers made quick work of the Lady Knights, sweeping them two games to none. In Season 100, the script was the same—Benilde did not allow Letran to win a single game.
How They Got Here
This year, however, feels different—and Letran has done plenty to earn the “title favorites” label.
Under rookie head coach Mayeth Carolino, the Lady Knights swept the elimination round with a 13-game winning streak, then extended it by two more in the playoffs and semifinals. Their streak did end in Game 2 of their semifinal series against San Beda, but Letran found a way back onto the winning track.
For the four-time defending champions, the road has been bumpier. Benilde dropped three games in the regular season and entered the playoffs as the second seed in Group A behind the Perpetual Help Lady Altas and their 11-2 record. But this is where championship pedigree kicked in as the Lady Blazers eliminated Arellano in the quarterfinals and Perpetual in the semis. They are now riding a seven-game winning streak into the finals.
Can Letran Finally Avoid the Sweep—and Win It All?
The improvement of Letran’s sophomores—primarily the trio of Vanessa Sarie, Leonilyn Padilla, and Joralyn Panangin—has made the Lady Knights a more complete team on both ends of the floor. Add third-year standout Judiel Nitura and graduating setter Natalie Estreller, who have been consistent statistical contributors all season, and it is easy to see why Letran is a legitimate threat to avoid another sweep.
Benilde, however, is not easily counted out. Middle blocker Zam Nolasco is in the conversation for this season’s MVP award. Clydel Catarig has been a reliable scoring option, and prized rookie Cam Bartolome has proven she can handle elite competition—at times becoming the focal point of the offense entirely.
This finals is too close to call. Both teams have shown all season that they are the clear class of the field, and the gap between them is narrower than the scorecards of the first two finals suggest.
Game 1 between Letran and Benilde tips off on Sunday, April 5, at 12:00 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
