College of St. Benilde celebrates a point against San Sebastian in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup, October, 2025 at the Paco Arena in Manila. Handout/Shakey's
MANILA -- College of St. Benilde is off to a good start in the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup after a speedy win over fellow NCAA squad San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Friday.
The Lady Blazers cruised to a 25-17, 25-20, 25-18 in just 77 minutes at the Paco Arena in Manila to open their Pool D campaign on a bright note.
Zam Nolasco made the most of her brief stint by blasting nine points from six kills and three kill blocks all in the first set before calling it a day.
Except for some anxious moments in the final stretch of the second set, the SSL National Invitationals Batangas Leg runners-up controlled the duel that was rescheduled after its postponement last week due to Typhoon Opong.
Nolasco had plenty of help on offense as Camila Bartolome shone in her conversion to open spiker from middle blocker with a seven-point output including six attacks.
"Sinabi lang ni coach sa amin na laruin lang ang laro namin and naipakita naman namin yun kanina," Bartolome said.
Shekaina Lleses also had seven markers while Rhea Densing and Mae Flores added six and five points, respectively, for the four-time NCAA champion CSB, which outgunned SSC-R in spikes, 44-30.
The Lady Blazers shattered a 19-19 deadlock in the second frame with four unanswered points for a comfortable cushion. SSC-R was able to stop the bleeding but it was its last point of the set with Densing scoring on a combination play, followed by a reception miscue by the Lady Stags.
CSB carried the momentum of its second set escape to cruise in the next frame to join idle Ateneo de Manila University on top of the group standings of the competition.
SSC-R absorbed a second straight setback, which put the team on the brink of elimination.
Christina Marasigan paced the Lady Stags with eight points, Katherine Santos scored seven while Princess Ramos and Divine Garcia had six markers each in a losing effort.
In the third game, Mapua University rallied from a 1-2 match deficit to stun Letran, 25-19, 12-25, 20-25, 26-24, 16-14, and barge on the win column in Pool C.
Nicole Ong and Seanelle Garcia delivered the crucial points down the stretch for the Lady Cardinals to emerge victorious in their second straight marathon duel following a tough five-set loss to University of the Philippines in their opener.
Ong scored three consecutive points to push Mapua at match point, 14-12. The Lady Knights responded with two straight points from a kill by Judiel Nitura followed by an ace by Joralyn Panangin to force a deuce.
Garcia scored on an offspeed attack before shutting the door on Nitura for the escape.
Ong finished with 17 points from 13 attacks and four kill blocks for Mapua, which tied University of Sto. Tomas (1-1) behind UP (2-0).
Letran received the boot in the chase for the two seats in the next round after going winless in two outings.