College of Saint Benilde outlasted a furious Arellano University rally to win in five sets, 25–22, 22–25, 25–20, 22–25, 15–11. The victory capped a perfect weekend sweep and handed the Blazers the solo lead in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge.

The win came less than 24 hours after Benilde battled through a four-set win over Mapua University. Back-to-back grueling matches tested the Blazers’ depth, but they closed out the weekend with a spotless 2–0 record.

Betco’s Fifth-Set Surge Seals Benilde’s Win

Arellano nearly stole the match in the fourth set after Benilde built a 19–16 cushion. Jiwen Sinuto sparked a furious Chiefs rally that dragged the nearly 40-minute frame in Arellano’s favor, forcing a decider.

Reymark Betco took over from there, pouring in most of his team-high 27 points in the final set. His scoring kept Arellano at bay and pushed the Blazers over the finish line.

Rocky Motol chipped in 24 points, bouncing back from fourth-set miscues with timely hits when it mattered most. Chris Villanueva ran the offense smoothly, finishing with 30 excellent sets to go with two points of his own.

Head coach Arnold Laniog credited his team’s mental toughness for the comeback. “Mindset lang yan eh; given na malalakas naman yung katawan ng mga bata. Yung mindset kung paanong magre-respond don sa uncomfortable situation,” he said.

Arellano Falls Despite Sinuto’s Strong Showing

Sinuto led all Arellano scorers with 18 points, built on 16 attacks and two blocks. Team captain Daniel Agovida backed him up with 13 points, including nine kills and four rejections.

The loss dropped the Chiefs to an even 1–1 record on the young season. Arellano will look to regroup quickly with another match just hours away.

Laniog also pointed to experience as a factor in Benilde’s fifth-set success this season. “Tingin ko nakatulong yung core ko last year sa NC na most of the fifth sets namin napanalo,” he said.

Benilde will chase a third straight win against fellow NCAA squad Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Saturday at 3 p.m. Arellano, meanwhile, faces the University of Santo Tomas later that day at 5 p.m., both at Gameville Central Park.