College of Saint Benilde overcame a shaky first two sets before completing a sweep of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 28-26, 26-24, 25-18, to secure a second round seat in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup on Sunday at the Paco Arena.
The Lady Blazers snatched their second win in as many outings and climbed to solo top spot in Pool D of the tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
Veteran Zam Nolasco delivered 12 points from seven attacks, three kill blocks and two aces while her leadership kept CSB together during anxious moments in the closing stretch of the first two frames.
“Alam naman ang sasabihin ni Coach (Jerry Yee) so kami na lang ang gumawa ng talk sa isa’t isa. ‘Yung mga lapses namin sa first and second sets siguro dahil nag-relax lang din kami. During the third set du’n na namin talaga inilabas ang laro namin and gusto na naming tapusin,” Nolasco said.
The Lady Blazers raced to an early lead in the third frame and even built a 20-14 advantage. Unlike in the previous sets, CSB maintained a safe distance from the Lady Altas to finish the match in straight sets.
“Alam namin ang mga capabilities namin sa game siguro dun na lang namin ibinuhos (a third set) para matapos na ‘yung game,” Nolasco said.
Fiona Inocentes got 10 markers, while Camila Bartolome and Shahanna Lleses scored eight and seven points, respectively, for the Lady Blazers.
CSB squandered a 24-20 lead in the opening set as Perpetual unleashed a 5-0 counter to take the setpoint advantage. The Lady Blazers equalized before Shai Omipon put the Lady Altas back in front, 26-25.
Cristy Ondangan saved a point, followed by a Shekaina Lleses hit, before CSB got the lucky break off a reception miscue by Perpetual to draw first blood.
Back-to-back hits from Shahanna Lleses and Nolasco rescued the Lady Blazers from collapse after allowing the Lady Altas to save two set points that forced an extension in the second set. CSB faces Ateneo de Manila University (1-0) on Thursday when it shoots for a preliminary round sweep of the competition, supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel- Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.
Omipon had 11 points while Charisse Enrico and Liz Villanueva got six each for Perpetual, which closed the prelims with a 1-2 record. The Lady Altas will need to pray for Ateneo to drop its last two games and end up with an inferior tiebreak for a chance to advance to the next round.
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
Games on Thursday (Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
10 a.m. — Adamson vs Arellano
12 p.m. — CSB vs Ateneo
2 p.m. — NU vs San Beda
4 p.m. — UST vs Mapua
