FOURTH-ranked College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers climbed two steps up the step-ladder to arrange a finals showdown with the San Sebastian Lady Stags.
First the Lady Blazers overcame the University of Perpetual Help Lady Altas and then found a way to get past the defending champion Arellano Lady Chiefs’ frontline defense.
In the men’s division, Rey Taneo Jr. unloaded 21 points and led a big scoring run in the fifth and final set to power the University of Perpetual Help Altas to a 33-31, 25-22, 23-25, 23-25, 15-9 triumph in their Final Four semifinals showdown.
This put the Altas in a finals showdown with the defending champion Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.
Coach Macky Carino’s move to let Jeannette Panaga control of the middle by herself worked wonders in the final moments of their 90-minute long encounter.
Panaga, one of the Lady Blazers’ veteran spikers, came away with a clean block of Shirley Salamagos’ attack with teammate Jennica Tan.
Her block allowed the Lady Blazers to upset the Lady Chiefs, last year’s champions, with a 25-20, 25-22, 25-23 win.
This put the Lady Blazers in the finals against the San Sebastian Lady Stags after their stepladder semifinals showdown in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
“Play ko talaga iyun eh. Sabi ko, sa harap at sa inyo ibibigay ang bola,” said Carino, who is coaching for the Blazers for the first time after transferring from University of Perpetual Help.
The 21-year-old Panaga’s spike came right after teammate Ranya Musa committed a service error.
Carino took note that he had to shift Panaga towards the middle and away from other frontline defenders, because she was being targeted by the Lady Chiefs’ attacks in the final set.
Panaga showed the way for the Lady Blazers with 21 points and scored nine of it on attacks. Nine more points came from blocks, and another six from her serves.
The Lady Chiefs drew 13 apiece from CJ Rosario and Joviely Grace Prado.
It was Rosario’s kill which allowed Arellano to enjoy a 10-8 lead in the final set.
But a counterattack from Jan Daguil and Panaga in the next that allowed the Lady Blazers to keep the encounter tight, 10-all.
“Kailangan talaga patayin yung bola,” said Panaga, who added that she and her batch mates now have a chance of winning their first ever women’s crown.
The Lady Blazers will meet the San Sebastian Lady Stags in Game 1 Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The Lady Stags earned an automatic finals berth when they completed a nine-game sweep in the women’s division last week.
Gretchel Soltones hit 32 points, with 24 of it coming off her attacks to lead the Lady Stags to a 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, victory over the Lady Blazers in their final game of the eliminations.
The Lady Blazers advanced to the last phase of the stepladder semis after a 16-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-21, win over Perpetual Help last Tuesday, Jan. 12.
In this game, Carino banked on his familiarity with the Lady Altas style of play since he was Sammy Acaylar’s assistant coach for a decade in Perpetual before he transferred to the Taft-based squad.
Navarro and Musa led the Lady Blazers with 15 points each while Jeanette Panaga had 11 markers.
