St. Benilde forces rubber match vs UST in SSL QF

The College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers defeated the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in a thrilling five-set match, 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-11, to force a rubber match in the Shakey's Super League quarterfinals.

Despite a twice-to-win disadvantage as the third seed, the Lady Blazers showcased their championship experience by overcoming a 1-2 set deficit.

Wielyn Estoque led the charge with 18 points, including the crucial final points, supported by Gayle Pascual's 16 points and Zamantha Nolasco's 13 points.

Game 2 of the quarterfinals is scheduled for next Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, where the winner will advance to face either Far Eastern University or Ateneo de Manila University in the semifinals.

Coach Jerry Yee expressed that the team's ability to rest and prepare contributed to their strong performance and fight in the game.