San Beda celebrates a point against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup, September 20, 2025 at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan. Handout/SSL
MANILA -- San Beda University went the distance before coming away with a tough win against Emilio Aguinaldo College in their first Pool A game in the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup on Saturday.
The Lady Red Spikers overturned a one-set deficit for a 25-19, 19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10 result at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
Angel Habacon scored five of her 16 points in the fifth set, including the Lady Red Spikers' last three hits of the match, which lasted two hours and 33 minutes.
The Mediola-based squad shattered a 7-7 tie in the deciding frame with a scorching 7-2 run capped by Habacon's back-to-back kill to reach match point, 14-10.
The Lady Generals saved a point, but Habacon nipped the uprising in the bud with a thunderous hammer that EAC failed to control.
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"Ibinigay lang namin yung best namin para maka-contribute kami sa loob ng court and we played as one sa loob," said the veteran open spiker.
Janelle Bachar finished with a game-high 17 points, coming from 16 kills and an ace, for San Beda under new coach Kungfu Reyes.
Jeliane Catubig added 12 markers while Rianne Bedural chipped in eight in the Lady Red Spikers' good start in the centerpiece competition of the league, backed by Shakey's Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
"Napakaimportante ng panalo kasi may new system kami. Inaabangan kami ng lahat lalo na ni coach na magpakita ng maganda sa loob ng court," Habacon added.
The trio of Bachar, Habacon and Catubig accounted for 43 of San Beda's 55 attack points in the competition, supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel- Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.
Bachar and Catubig teamed up on offense in the fourth frame as the Lady Spikers built a comfortable cushion on their way to forcing a fifth set.
San Beda's second unit failed to sustain the momentum built by their starters in the opening set and saw themselves trail by 11 midway through the second frame. Reyes was forced to bring back his main guns as San Beda made a late run to close the gap, 23-18.
Costly errors committed by the Lady Red Spikers in the closing stretch allowed the Lady Generals to equalize. EAC sustained its momentum to control the third frame and take a 2-1 match lead.
Angel Perez finished with 14 points while Jaed Sayago had 13 for the Lady Generals, who committed 40 errors.