College of Saint Benilde pulled off another stunning escape, taking down five-peat UAAP champion National University in a gripping five-set showdown, 25-22, 25-22, 27-29, 15-25, 15-12, in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Wednesday, September 10, afternoon at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.

Just three days after bringing down defending V-League titlist FEU Tamaraws, the Blazers once again leaned on the brilliance of reigning NCAA MVP Rocky Motol and Reymark Betco to claim another giant scalp in the Bulldogs—who played without Buds Buddin, Jade Disquitado, Leo Ordiales, and Peng Taguibolos due to national team commitments. Benilde, already out of semifinal contention, bowed out of the eight-team tournament organized by Sports Vision on a strong and defiant note.

Motol delivered an all-around performance with 21 points built on 18 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while also anchoring the floor defense with 32 excellent receptions and six digs. Betco chipped in 18 points as the Blazers ended their campaign with back-to-back wins and a 3-4 record.

“Malaking boost sa morale ng team namin lalo na sa ibang players na in-eexpose ko pa. Malaking confidence booster ito para sa mga susunod na liga and sa NCAA season by beating two UAAP teams. Talagang makakapagbigay ito ng kumpiyansa sa team,” Blazers head coach Arnold Laniog said.

Motol and Betco power Blazers’ upset bid

NU raced to an early 7-5 lead in the decider, but Benilde responded with a pivotal 4-0 run—highlighted by an offspeed hit from Motol and an ace from team captain John Austero—to grab a 9-7 advantage.

The Blazers kept momentum until the 13-10 mark before the Bulldogs threatened one last time, cutting the deficit to just one, 13-12, off a Mac Bandola out-of-system hit and a Betco error.

But in the endgame, Benilde’s composure carried the day. A Motol backrow kill and an Austero running attack sealed the Blazers’ second straight victory in exactly two hours of action.

Bulldogs suffer rare loss to NCAA side

Mike Balbacal contributed 13 points on 10 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while Paul Jordan added 12. Setter Chris Villanueva steered the offense with 31 excellent sets and also scored three points, as Austero pitched in six markers.

On the other side, NU absorbed its second straight loss, dropping to 2-4 ahead of its final match against the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights on Monday, Sept. 29, at the Filoil Centre.

Coincidentally, it marked the Bulldogs’ first loss to an NCAA squad in exactly two years, the last time coming on Sept. 10, 2023, when they fell to the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in four sets.

Bandola paced NU with 18 points on 17 attacks alongside five excellent receptions, while rookie hitter Luke Macatangay finished with 17 points on 15 attacks and eight receptions. Jan Abanilla added 15 points, and foreign student-athlete Obed Mukaba contributed 13 in the losing cause.