Underdog St. Benilde waltzes way to title

MANILA, Philippines – Given the chance to shine, St. Benilde seized the moment, stopping reigning back-to-back MVP Gretchel Soltones and San Sebastian College in sudden death, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, yesterday to nail its first-ever title in the 91st NCAA women’s volleyball at The Arena in San Juan City.

“We worked hard to make it this far and I kept urging the players not to blow this chance,” said St. Benilde coach Michael Carino.

Janine Navarro and Ranya Musa came through with 18 and 17 hits, respectively, while Jeanette Panaga scattered 16 markers, including a series-best seven blocks, to anchor the Lady Blazers’ breakthrough victory.

CSB actually earned a shot at the title twice – 2008-09 – but was foiled each time by San Sebastian, also under coach Roger Gorayeb.

That made the victory sweeter with the Lady Blazers capping their title romp by crushing the Lady Stars’ thrice-to-beat edge.

Buck the odds the Lady Blazers did as they made it to the stepladder semis at No. 4 before getting back at No. 3 Perpetual Help, No. 2 and last year’s titlist Arellano U and elimination round sweeper San Sebastian, teams that they failed to beat in the elims.

“Our motivation entering the semis was to get back at all of them,” said Carino.

St. Benilde did it with defense as it held down Soltones, the best individual performer this season after earning her second MVP award, to just 19 hits after averaging a whopping 29 entering the final game of the championship.

Panaga, a 21-year-old ace from Limay, Bataan, best typified CSB’s solid net defense as she kept the power-hitting Soltones at bay majority of the match.

She went on to bag the Finals MVP.

“I was not thinking of the Finals MVP, I’m more focused on stopping Soltones and helping my team win the championship,” said Panaga.