SPORT | Benilde rallies to dethrone Perpetual in NCAA men's volleyball finals

MANILA, Philippines – St. Benilde fought back from a set down and a four-hit deficit in the fifth and final set as it downed last year's titlist Perpetual Help, 25-12, 21-25, 17-25, 25-14, 18-16, yesterday to snare its first men's title in the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Down a set to two, the Lady Stags stormed their way back to snatch the fourth set, forced the deciding set where they erased a 3-7 deficit to complete a series sweep and claim their very first championship since joining the league almost two decades ago.

Big-hitting Johnvic de Guzman, playing his final season, came through big again, unloading a match-best 28 hits, including key points in the last set to hand the Blazers their first ever championship.

It came four days after de Guzman uncorked 19 points in propelling St. Benilde to a 25-17, 26-24, 25-17 triumph over Perpetual Help.

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De Guzman was later awarded Finals MVP for his heroics apart from the season MVP he received moments after Game Two.

And then it was all pandemonium.

"This is a special moment for for us and the school because it this is the first," said St. Benilde coach Arnold Laniog in Filipino. "It was a team effort but I have to say Johnvic (de Guzman) really stepped up big for us."

For de Guzman, he dedicated the win to his mother Marissa.

"This is for her for teaching me the game and being there for me from the start," said de Guzman.
Earlier, San Beda’s Adrian Viray (First Outside Spiker) and Limuel Patenio (Second Middle Blocker), Arellano’s John Joseph Cabillan (Second Outside Spiker) and Kevin Liberato (First Middle Blocker), Perpetual’s Jack Kalingking (Libero), Relan Taneo (Setter), De Guzman (Opposite Spiker), and Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Joshua Mina (Rookie) joined de Guzman as the league's best individual performers. - PhilstarSports