College of Saint Benilde relied on its youth and energy in outlasting the veteran-laden Philippine Army, 16-25, 25-16, 25-27, 25-14, 15-9, to set its title-retention bid in motion Monday in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Blazers banked on its three-headed monster in Gayle Pascual, Wielyn Estoque and Zamantha Nolasco on offense but it was Rhea Densing who delivered at crunch time after dropping five of her eight points in the fifth set.
Saint Benilde pounded 70 points coming off attacks with Estoque hitting 16 of her 17 markers from spikes. Pascual and Nolasco added 17 points each for the back-to-back National Collegiate Athletic Association champions.
Team captain Jessa Dorog posted eight markers for the Lady Blazers, who drew a bye on opening day Sunday.
Saint Benilde turned the tables around in the fourth set after going down 1-2 in the match.
The Lady Blazers’ sizzling performance in the fourth frame led by Pascual, Estoque and Nolasco zapped the energy out of the Lady Troopers, who committed 19 errors, including three costly miscues in the fifth set.
Army suffered its second loss in a row after absorbing a straight-set defeat at the hands of Petro Gazz last Sunday.
Royse Tubino had 17 points in a losing cause for the Lady Troopers.
Audrey Paran, Nene Bautista and Lut Malaluan finished with 11 markers each for Army.
