Lady Blazers keep Lady Pirates at bay to enhance semis bid

MANILA, Philippines – College of St. Benilde overcame a jittery start as it turned back Lyceum of the Philippines University, 25-20, 18-25, 25-14, 25-18, Friday to boost its Final Four stock in the women’s division of the 94th NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Rachel Anne Austero and Klarisa Abriam paced their team with 14 points apiece while Marites Pablo scattered 12 as the Lady Blazers claimed their fifth victory in six outings and in position of snaring not just a spot in the Final Four but also a place in the top two.

Skipper Jewel Lai, for her part, had 35 excellent sets while chipping in four hits.

She was also the glue that kept CSB together particularly in the final two sets when it dominated LPU after struggling in the first two sets.

“We were a little jumpy in the first two sets, we can’t do that if we want to do good in this tournament,” said CSB coach Jerry Yee.

Alexandra Mikaela Rafael played her best game for the Lady Pirates as she uncorked 16 points, most of which came in the second set when they leveled the count at one set apiece.

And then it was all CSB from there as Lai set up a spiking spree with Austero, Abriam and Pablo taking turns in delivering the blows.
LPU slipped to 2-5.

In the other game, San Beda overpowered Letran, 25-18, 25-14, 25-13, to stay at No. 2 with a 6-1 card, or just half a game behind reigning titlist Arellano U (6-0).

Twins Maria Nieza and Maria Jezela Viray did most of the damage as they combined for 28 hits including 20 on attacks.