Dave Lardizabal put on a scoring clinic to power Colegio de San Juan de Letran to a stunning five-set upset. The Knights toppled De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 25-27, 22-25, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13, on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

The win ended Benilde’s perfect run and left no unbeaten teams remaining in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge. It also marked Letran’s third straight victory after dropping its tournament opener.

Lardizabal Leads Letran’s Comeback

Lardizabal finished with a match-high 24 points to spearhead the Knights’ offense. Vince Himzon and Jessel Nimmo backed him up with 15 markers apiece.

Letran struck first before Benilde answered with two straight-set wins to grab a 2-1 lead. The Knights refused to fold, forcing a decider after a tense back-and-forth fourth set.

Tied at 11-all in that fourth set, Benilde surged ahead on a 9-3 run capped by a Rocky Motol kill. Letran clawed back with a 10-4 spurt of its own to even things at 24-all before eventually forcing the fifth set.

In the finale, kills from Betco and Himzon built a two-point cushion for the Knights. Himzon then sealed the win with another quick attack, completing the upset over the reigning NCAA champions.

Lopez Credits Discipline for the Win

Head coach Jessie Lopez said Benilde’s early comfort opened the door for his team. “Medyo nag-relax sila. Akala kasi nila ‘yong kalaban magiging go-easy sa kanila,” he said, adding that Letran couldn’t afford to ease up against an NCAA champion.

Lopez pointed to training discipline as the difference-maker in the deciding sets. “Kailangan lang nila maintindihan na ‘yong ginagawa namin everyday sa training is gagawin mo rin sa game,” he said.

For Benilde, Motol led all scorers with 19 points, while Reymark Betco added 16. The loss dropped the Blazers to 2-1 as they now face a tougher test against reigning V-League champions Far Eastern University on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Letran, meanwhile, will look to extend its win streak to four when it faces De La Salle University on Sunday, Sept. 6, at noon, still at Gameville Central Park.