College of Saint Benilde overcame shaky moments and defeated Arellano University, 25-15, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, to close its 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge preliminaries on a high note Monday, September 29, at the FilOil Ecooil Centre in San Juan.

The semifinal-bound Lady Blazers ended the eliminations with a 5-2 record, currently sitting in third place, pending the result of the final round match between the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws and the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas.

Veterans lead late turnaround

With the third set hanging in the balance and Arellano holding a slight 16-14 edge, Benilde’s seasoned seniors turned the tide, eventually taking a 2-1 lead in sets. Setter Chanae Basarte connected with Rhea Densing and Clydel Catarig during the crucial stretches of that pivotal third set, helping the Lady Blazers gain momentum to close the match in four sets after one hour and 43 minutes.

“It happens naman even to the best of us. Constant reminder lang na ‘yung pina-practice nila sa training, we just have to play smart and ‘yung composure nila. They have to adjust every time kasi nag-a-adjust ‘yung kalaban eh. Medyo natagalan lang pero eventually they were able to solve ‘yung problema nung mga sets na ‘yon,” said assistant coach JP Martires.

Catarig shines off the bench

Clydel Catarig was on point throughout the match, contributing 16 points off the bench, including 12 attacks, four blocks, and one service ace. Meanwhile, Densing and Zam Nolasco added 11 points each to bolster the Lady Blazers’ effort.

Regardless of the outcome of the FEU-Perpetual clash, Benilde is set to face the Lady Tamaraws in a best-of-three semifinals series starting Wednesday at the same San Juan venue.

Arellano, meanwhile, will await the result of that contest. A Lady Tamaraws win would set the Lady Chiefs up against the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the semifinals, while a Lady Altas victory would give Perpetual the last semis spot.

Cris Servidad led all scorers with 19 points, coming from 15 attacks, one block, and three service aces, but it was not enough to secure Arellano an outright passage into the knockout round.