After winning a do-or-die Game 2 of the NCAA Season 101 Women’s Volleyball Tournament finals, Zam Nolasco wants the Benilde Lady Blazers to bring the same intensity into the deciding Game 3 this Friday.
With their backs against the wall, the defending champions needed to make a statement to keep their title defense alive—and they did it convincingly, sweeping the Letran Lady Knights last Wednesday afternoon to force a decider.
Nolasco, who took home both the Season 101 MVP and Best Middle Blocker awards, told reporters she is focused on sustaining that same emotional edge heading into Friday.
“‘Yun lang po ‘yung pagiging gigil din talaga namin na kunin kasi maganda po na ganun ‘yung emotions namin and ‘yung composure din po ng team nasu-sustain and ayun po,” she said.
The veteran middle blocker backed up her hardware with a stellar performance in Game 2, finishing with 19 points built on 18 attacks.
No Back-to-Back Losses Since Season 94
Going all the way back to the 2018–19 academic year, the Benilde Lady Blazers have not suffered consecutive losses in any volleyball tournament—a streak that has held through roster changes and coaching transitions alike. The system endures.
When asked about it, the three-time champion kept it simple.
“Ayun po, trabaho lang po talaga kami. Like hindi naman po namin masyadong nagi-stick sa pagkatalo namin kase hindi pa naman po talaga tapos yung season,” Zam Nolasco told reporters.
The Future Is Bright With Cam Bartolome, Says Zam Nolasco
The graduating superstar also took a moment to give flowers to Rookie of the Year winner Cam Bartolome, saying she is glad the 19-year-old has been given the right exposure at this stage of her career.
“Maganda po kasi nae-expose po siya ngayon, nakaka-gain po siya ng experience and maganda po kasi may katulong na ‘yung ibang teammates ko na nagii-standout ngayon,” Zam added.
With a chance to exit the NCAA as a four-time champion, Zam Nolasco and the rest of the Lady Blazers will look to make history one more time when they face the Letran Lady Knights in Game 3 this Friday, April 10, at 2:30 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
