WITH BOTH TEAMS undefeated at 3-0, the San Beda Lady Red Spikers clashed with Letran Lady Knights in a thrilling showdown that ended in a narrow 25-17, 13-25, 13-25, 13-25 loss in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 101 women’s volleyball tournament on February 3 at the San Andres Sports Complex.

The Lady Red Spikers opened strong, claiming the first set, 25-17, with controlled offense and steady floor defense. Midway through the frame, San Beda  called for a challenge after insisting their attack landed in. A video review confirmed that the ball clipped the line, awarding the point to the Lady Red Spikers and keeping momentum on their side. 

Habacon’s serve remained an asset for the team, but Letran responded strongly in the second set. With the Letran Knights consistently delivering service aces, San Beda struggled to maintain its momentum and rhythm. Letran played with growing confidence and pulled away for a 25-13 win to even the match.

At the start of the third set, San Beda once again called for a challenge, insisting their attack landed in. This time, the video reviewed showed the ball had gone out, denying them the point. The Lady Knights carried the momentum in this set and secured another 13-25 victory. 

With the momentum firmly on their side, Letran remained steady and composed in the fourth set. San Beda’s powerful serve repeatedly missed the mark, frequently carrying too much power and landing beyond the baseline. The Lady Knights closed out the match with another 13-25 finish. 

Head Coach Emilio “Kungfu” Reyes admitted that the team’s strategies did not go as planned, with their set plays failing to materialize during the game. He emphasized the need to reassess their performance and make the necessary adjustments, highlighting several areas where the team fell short as they prepared for the remaining matches.

“Ang mga lapses is ‘yong medyo malambot ‘yong serve natin, ‘yong attack coverage natin, ‘yong blocking defense pattern, floor defense…’di siya naging effective for today,” Reyes said. He also pointed out rotation issues, noting that this is something the team must work to improve on.

Looking ahead, Coach Reyes emphasized that the team aims to protect their remaining games this season, starting with their matchup against the Lady Bombers on February 6 at the San Andres Sports Complex. 

Set Scores: San Beda – CSJL: 25-17, 13-25, 13-25, 13-25

Box Scores: 

San Beda (1): Habacon 12, Bachar 7, Dela Cruz 6, Catubig 4, Castillo 3, Joniega 3, Hiponia 2, Molina 1, Navarro 1, Caballero 1

CSJL (3): Nitura 22, Sarie 14, Maquilang 14, Isar 6, Padilla 4, Colendra 3, Estreller 2, Flores 1