COLLEGE of Saint Benilde’s (CSB) men’s and women’s teams swept their opponents from Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) to stay on top of the table of Season 92 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) volleyball action on Monday at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
The defending champion Lady Blazers foiled the Lady Generals, 25-10, 18-25, 25-7, 25-23, to bounce back from their first lost last week, while the Blazers disposed of the Generals also in four sets, 25-18, 25-17, 20-25, 25-13, to tie the San Beda Red Lions on top of the standings with a 5-1 win-loss card.
Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Grethcel Soltones, who had 17 points, and the San Sebastian College Lady Stags, meanwhile, remained undefeated in six games after shutting down Jose Rizal University (JRU), 25-15, 25-10, 25-23.
After suffering their first defeat at the hands of the Lyceum of the Philippines University Lady Pirates in five sets last week, Lady Blazers skipper Jeanette Panaga led their vengeful victory by dropping 22 points on 15 kills, six blocks and a service ace to put here team back to solo second place with a 5-1 card.
Panaga, the reigning Finals MVP, got help from Arianne Daguil and Rachel Austero, who had 13 and 10 hits, respectively, while setter Pauline made 40 excellent sets.
The Blazers, on the other hand, for the able-bodied points from skipper Johnvic De Guzman, who made 20 points built around 17 spikes and three blocks.
De Guzman, the season’s top scorer with 118 points on 105 kills, nine blocks and four aces in just six games, drew support from Ron Jordan and Isaah Arda, who delivered 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Lady Blazers (5-1) face the San Beda Lady Red Spikers (4-2) in a crucial match for the Final Four on January 5 next year, with the Blazers and Red Spikers, both carrying 5-1 records, facing each other on the same day.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza