College of St. Benilde celebrates against Arellano in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, September 29, 2025 at the FilOil Ecooil Centre in San Juan. PVL Media
MANILA -- College of St. Benilde is heading to the semifinals of the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge armed with momentum.
This, after the Lady Blazers took care of business against Arellano, 25-15, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, in their final preliminary round assignment on Monday at the FilOil Ecooil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Blazers finished the elimination round with a 5-2 win-loss record.
With the third set hanging in the balance and Arellano holding a slight 16-14 edge, Benilde's seasoned seniors turned the tide, eventually taking a 2-1 lead in sets.
Setter Chanae Basarte connected with Rhea Densing and Clydel Catarig during the crucial stretches of that pivotal third set, helping the Lady Blazers gain momentum to close the match in four sets after one hour and 43 minutes.
"It happens naman even to the best of us. Constant reminder lang na 'yung pina-practice nila sa training, we just have to play smart and 'yung composure nila. They have to adjust every time kasi nag-a-adjust 'yung kalaban eh. Medyo natagalan lang pero eventually they were able to solve 'yung problema nung mga sets na 'yon," said assistant coach JP Martires.
"We were able to pull through. Nawawala lang sa sistema and nakikita niyo naman sa movement. When they were able to address 'yung problema, OK na."
Clydel Catarig was on point throughout the match, contributing 16 points off the bench, including 12 attacks, four blocks, and one service ace. Meanwhile, Rhea Densing and Zam Nolasco added 11 points each to bolster the Lady Blazers' effort.
Regardless of the outcome of the FEU-Perpetual match, Benilde is set to face FEU in a best-of-three semifinals series starting Wednesday at the same San Juan venue.
Arellano, meanwhile, will await the result of that contest.
A Lady Tamaraws win would set the Lady Chiefs up against the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the semifinals, while a Lady Altas victory would give Perpetual the last semis spot.
Cris Servidad led all scorers with 19 points, coming from 15 attacks, one block, and three service aces, but it was not enough to secure Arellano an outright passage into the knockout round.