Lady Blazers bounce back, edge Lady Titans in Shakey's Invitationals
Games Wednesday:
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
1 p.m. — UST vs Southern Storm
3 p.m. — HCM vs Enderun
5 p.m. — CSB vs Letran
MANILA, Philippines — College of Saint Benilde came back from a set down to repel Enderun Colleges, 21-25, 27-25, 25-18, 25-22, for a rebound win in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The Lady Blazers capitalized on their gutsy second-set fightback to turn the tables around and frustrate the listless Lady Titans for their second victory in three starts.
Rookie winger Mhonniecka Soliven blasted 20 points on 18 kills and two aces to steer CSB back in the win column of the competition backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea following a four-set loss to University of Santo Tomas on Monday to improve to a 2-1 win-loss record.
“Marami pa ring bagay na nagla-lack pero I think mas magi-improve pa kami sa mga next games namin,” Soliven said.
Camila Bartolome added 19 markers built on 14 attacks, including the match-clinching crosscourt kill, four kill blocks and an ace, while Mary Grace Borromeo and Fionna Inocentes added nine points each for the Lady Blazers, who managed to snatch the win despite throwing away 31 points on errors.
CSB encountered tough resistance from Enderun in the closing stretch of the fourth set after the Lady Titans cut the Lady Blazers’ six-point lead to 22-21 following a hit by Althea Botor.
Bartolome and Soliven answered with back-to-back hits before Enderun saved a match point. Bartolome then smashed the finishing hit to end the one-hour, 57-minute battle in the tournament supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com and Smart Sports.
The Lady Blazers face Letran in a rematch of the NCAA Season 101 finals on Wednesday.
Enderun, which squandered two set-point advantages in the second frame, dropped their third game to remain winless at the bottom of the standings.
The Lady Titans were a point away from taking the second set, 24-22, but allowed CSB to string three straight points to swing the momentum. Enderun saved a point but a Bartolome kill followed by Jasmine Salvani’s costly attack error tied the match at one set apiece.
Botor scored 15 of her 16 points on spikes, while Salvani and Aurea Alvaro had 12 and 11 markers, respectively, for Enderun.
The Lady Titans attempt to end their slump against guest team Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club of Vietnam on Wednesday.
All games in the competition, backed by technical partners Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology and Team Rebel Sports, are available live and on-demand via PusoP.com livestream and Solar Sports.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas boosted its Final Four bid with a third straight win after sweeping Letran, 25-22, 25-17, 25-13, to stay on top of the standings.
The trio of Avril Bron, Erica Guttierez and Bianca Plaza led the unbeaten Golden Tigresses’ assault as they inched closer to securing a spot in the knockout semifinal with just two games left in the single-round robin elimination round.
Bron and Guttierez scored six of their points on kills while Plaza flexed her might at the net after accounting for four of UST’s 13 kill blocks in the match that only lasted 80 minutes.
The Tigresses punished the Lady Knights with 36 kills and landed nine aces but also committed 23 errors.
UST will take on Australian guest team Southern Storm Melbourne on Wednesday.
Letran slipped to a 1-2 slate, which put the reigning NCAA champion in a must-win situation in its last two outings to advance to the next round.
Verenicce Colandre had nine points on seven kills and two aces while Joralyn Panangin scored six for the Lady Knights, who will face College of Saint Benilde in a rematch of the NCAA Season 101 finals on Wednesday. (Pool story)
- Latest
- Trending
