Strong V-League debut for St. Benilde, hands UP second loss

MANILA, Philippines – College of Saint Benilde outlasted University of the Philippines, 17-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 15-9, to open its Shakey's V-League sixth season campaign at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City. The Lady Blazers, last year’s NCAA women’s volleyball runner-up, only had two victories to show in the two conferences they have partaken in the V-League. The victory, which needed almost two hours to settle, served as a big welcome for new coach Thelma Barina-Rojas. She is the head coach of the RP women’s team in this year’s Laos SEA Games. “We are still adjusting that is why I tried to come up with new combinations," said Barina-Rojas. She was a member of the national team that last won a SEA Games gold in 1993 in Singapore. Guest player Maureen Penetrante unleashed a 20-point performance, including 17 kills and two services aces, while Cindy Velasquez and Giza Yuma churned out 13 hits each. Four UP players scored in double figures with guest player Rubie De Leon tossing in 16 hits, Rebecca Montero scoring 15 and Danielle Castañeda and Southlyn Ramos chipping in 12 apiece. The Lady Blazers took a 20-13 lead in the fourth behind Yumang’s down-the-line hit. The Maroons fought back to within two, 19-21, before Kwan took over to preserve the set and force the decider. With Kwan, Yumang, Penetrante and Velasquez teaming up, the Lady Blazers controlled the fifth set and built a comfortable lead to thwart the Maroons’ last-ditch effort to turn the game around. – GMANews.TV