SAN BEDA College struggled to extend its unbeaten run to five games by surviving stubborn Colegio de San Juan de Letran in five sets, 17-25, 25-15, 25-16, 27-29, 15-12, in Season 93 National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball action on Monday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
San Beda’s winning streak was in trouble as the Lady Red Spikers flirted with disaster after losing a 2-1 set lead and allowed the Lady Knights to breathe down their necks fourth set, 29-27, and went down, 2-8, in the deciding set.
But Most Valuable Player candidate Cesca Racraquin made sure the Lady Red Spikers never wavered and sparked an amazing fifth-set comeback, scoring 13 of the last 17 points in the decider to complete the turn around.
Racraquin delivered the goods once again for San Beda with 17 points, including 13 digs and nine receptions.
Racraquin received adequate support from Nieza Viray, who had 14 points with 15 digs, and Sattriani Espiritu, Trisha Paras and Ella Viraz who made 12, 11 and 10 hits, respectively.
San Beda seized a share of lead with idle defending champion Arellano University on a 5-0 win-loss record.
Glayssa Torres, Charm Simborio and Jaymeleene Parin scored 18, 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Letran, which dropped to a 2-3 card.
College of Saint Benilde, meanwhile, arrested a two-game skid after avoiding a major upset from winless Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) also in five sets, 25-17, 18-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-7.
The Lady Blazers also squandered a 2-1 lead and allowed the Lady Generals to force a fifth set.
But middle blockers Ranya Musa and Rachel Austero caught fire in the decider and helped the Lady Blazers build a formidable 10-2 spread.
Saint Benilde improved to 3-2 for solo fourth place.
Austero led the way with 17 points on five service aces, while Musa delivered 15 hits. The twin towers of Benilde also provided seven of the team’s 13 blocks.
“My team still tends to relax every time we lead, and we gave EAC confidence, and that was the reason they were able to force a comeback,” Saint Benilde Head Coach Arnold Laniog said.
Nobody scored in double figures for Lady Generals with Yvette Tongco and Arina Reyes leading the team with nine points apiece, but they benefitted from Saint Benilde’s 48 errors.
EAC remained winless in five matches.
In men’s action, the Blazers (4-1) also prevailed in five sets after dismantling the Generals (2-3), 19-25, 20-25, 25-7, 25-14, 15-11, with Isaah Arda unloading 19 points.
EAC only won in juniors’ play as the Brigadiers (4-0) remained as the only unbeaten team after dealing La Salle Green Hills (4-1) its first loss, 31-29, 20-25, 26-24, 25-19.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza