The Letran Lady Knights are now one win away from winning the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball title as they survived the Benilde Lady Blazers, 17-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-14, 15-11, in Game 1 of their finals series on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
After dropping the opening set, the Lady Knights went toe-to-toe with the Lady Blazers in the succeeding frames, eventually forcing a deciding set behind a dominant fourth-set performance that shifted momentum in their favor.
A Back-and-Forth Set 5
Benilde appeared in control early in the fifth, turning a tight 4-all contest into a 7-4 lead and later stretching it to 10-8 behind key plays from Cam Bartolome and Shahanna Lleses.
However, Letran refused to back down, responding with crucial hits from Vanessa Sarie and a timely ace from Joralyn Panangin to tie the set at 10-all.
Zam Nolasco briefly restored Benilde’s lead at 11-10, but it proved to be their last point of the match. The Lady Knights erupted with a decisive 5-0 closing run, sparked by Sarie’s attack and highlighted by back-to-back service aces from Judiel Nitura.
A costly attack error from Benilde, followed by another Sarie hit, sealed the hard-earned victory for Letran.
Judiel Nitura Once Again Leads Letran
Nitura led the charge with 21 points, while Sarie and Gia Maquilang provided strong support with 19 and 18 markers, respectively. Maquilang also delivered an all-around effort with 17 digs and 13 receptions as Letran seized a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three series.
On the other side, Nolasco matched Nitura with 21 points, while Bartolome added 15 in a losing effort as the Lady Blazers absorbed their first finals defeat in five seasons.
With the win, Letran is now just one victory away from capturing its first championship since 1999, while Benilde will look to bounce back and keep its five-peat bid alive in Game 2 scheduled on Wednesday, April 8.
