KLARISA Abriam delivered the clutch blows as College of St. Benilde overcame Adamson’s comeback, 26-24, 29-27, 17-25, 21-25, 15-13, to draw first blood in the semifinals of the PVL Collegiate Conference on Saturday at the Arena in San Juan City.
The Lady Blazers blew a two-set advantage and 10-6 fifth set lead as Trisha Genesis and Lorene Toring led the Lady Falcons comeback to tie it at 12 in the fifth.
Abriam nailed back-to-back off-speed hits to get St. Benilde to match point, 14-13, followed by an attack error from Rizza Cruz.
Abriam nailed 25 spikes out of 71 attempts, finishing with 27 points, while making 16 digs as St. Benilde handed Adamson’s first loss of the tournament after a sweep of its five matches in the elimination round.
“Siyempre senior year ko na po pinupush din ako ni coach na kailan ako magstep up so parang kailangan nila ako para maglaro rin sila ng maayos. Ginawa ko lang yung best ko,” said Abriam.
Gayle Pascual put up a career-high 23 points off 19 kills, three blocks and an ace, while fellow St. Benilde rookie Mycah Go chipped in 12 markers and made 44 of the team’s 60 excellent receptions.
The Lady Blazers try to sweep the Lady Falcons on Wednesday.
“Nakabawi, good of course, pero tayo as coaches we tend to look at the negative things na gusto nating i-correct at pwedeng iwasan,” said CSB coach Jerry Yee.
“Sabi ko kung kuntento na tayo sa two-set win, e di pwede na tayo umuwi. I wanted them to think na hindi pa tapos yung game nagrerelax tayo. So yan yung nangyari fifth set pa lumusot pa tayo sa butas ng karayom.”
Ceasa Pinar scored 28 points built on 20 spikes, five blocks and three aces laced with 15 digs. Genesis contributed 17 points and 24 excellent receptions. Toring had 16 markers, Cruz finished with 13 and Lucille Almonte added 10 points.
Rookie Louie Romero had 40 excellent sets on top of 19 digs and three markers.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
