Benilde, SBC spikers gain share of lead

College of St. Benilde struggled past Letran, 25-22, 25-11, 25-20, yesterday to gain an early share of the lead in women’s play of the 93rd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Lady Blazers gave away a whopping 30 points on errors but still found a way to carve out the straight-set win behind the power-hitting duo of Ranya Musa and Rachele Ann Austero, who fired 14 hits apiece.

“In the first set alone, we gave up 15 points on errors, we were just giving them too many easy points,” said St. Benilde coach Arnold Laniog.

“Good thing we were attacking well and dominating them at the net,” he added.

Laniog also steered the Blazers, the reigning men’s titlists, to a strong start by overpowering the Letran Knights, 25-12, 25-21, 25-18.

Isaah Oneal Arda, now CSB’s main man following the graduation of Johnvic de Guzman, unloaded 17 points, including 14 on attacks, while Mark Jethro Orian added 13 hits.

San Beda later overcame a one-set and a 2-5 deficit in the fifth set to edge Jose Rizal U, 23-25, 25-19, 13-25, 25-19, 15-9, and join CSB, defending champion Arellano U and San Sebastian at the helm.

Marie Nieza Viray came away with a 19-point effort while Premier Volleyball League veteran Cesca Racraquin scattered 13 markers for the Red Spikers.

CSB, meanwhile, completed a sweep of Letran with a 25-15, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20 triumph in the juniors’ side.