MANILA – Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights achieved a three-peat in NCAA Season 100 women’s beach volleyball after a 21-10, 16-21, 15-13 victory over the Lyceum Lady Pirates in the finals in Subic, Zambales.
Ilongga Lara Mae Silva and tournament MVP Gia Maquilang survived a massive third set uprising by the Lady Pirates to claim their third straight championship and fourth overall.
The Lady Knights now joined the ranks of University of Perpetual Help System Lady Altas and San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags as the only three schools who have completed a three-peat in the tournament.
After failing to close out the Lady Pirates in the second set, the Lady Knights started strong in the deciding third set as they established a 6-1 start before holding on to a 9-5 lead.
Lady Pirates’ Monna Banares then committed an attack error that allowed the Lady Knights to reach the championship point at 14-9. Lyceum went on a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to 13-14 before Maquilang sealed the championship for Letran with an attack.
Meanwhile, San Beda University Lady Red Spikers salvaged a bronze medal finish in the tournament after a 21-17, 12-21, 15-10 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Lady Generals.
Negrense Reyann Cañete, Angel Habacon, and Katleya Molina anchored the Lady Red Spikers attack in the week-long beach volleyball competition to secure a podium finish.
The Lady Red Spikers fell short of reaching the championship round after losing to the Lady Pirates in the semifinals round on Saturday afternoon.
In the men’s division, Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals captured the men’s division crown after a 21-16, 21-16 victory over College of St. Benilde Blazers in the gold medal match.
In the juniors, Arellano University Braves bucked a slow start and dethroned reigning champion EAC with a hard-fought 19-21, 21-13, 15-12 victory in their finals duel./PN
