College of Saint Benilde overcame a shaky first two sets before completing a sweep of University of Perpetual Help, 28-26, 26-24, 25-18, on Sunday to secure a spot in the second round of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League Preseason Unity Cup at the Paco Arena.
The Lady Blazers notched their second win in as many outings and climbed to solo top spot.
Veteran Zam Nolasco delivered 12 points from seven attacks, three kill blocks and two aces, keeping the Lady Blazers calm during anxious moments in the closing stretch of the first two frames.
The Lady Blazers raced to an early lead in the third frame, 20-14. Unlike in the previous sets, CSB maintained a safe distance from the Lady Altas to finish the match in straight sets.
Fiona Inocentes had 10 points, Camila Bartolome scored eight and Shahanna Lleses added seven points for the Lady Blazers.
CSB squandered a 24-20 lead in the opening set as Perpetual unleashed a 5-0 counter. The Lady Blazers equalized before Shai Omipon put the Lady Altas back in front, 26-25.
Cristy Ondangan saved a point, followed by a Shekaina Lleses hit, before CSB got the lucky break off a reception miscue by Perpetual to draw first blood.
Back-to-back hits from Shahanna Lleses and Nolasco rescued the Lady Blazers from collapse after allowing the Lady Altas to save two set points that forced an extension in the second set.
CSB faces Ateneo (1-0) on Thursday when it shoots for a preliminary round sweep.
Omipon had 11 points while Charisse Enrico and Liz Villanueva got six each for Perpetual, which closed the prelims with a 1-2 record. The Lady Altas hope for Ateneo to drop its last two matches and end up with an inferior tiebreak for a chance to advance to the next round.