MANILA, Philippines – Patty Orendain stool tall in a fierce fifth set showdown as University of St. La Salle prolonged the agony of College of St. Benilde with a 25-21, 25-27, 18-25, 25-17, 15-11 victory Tuesday in the Shakey’s V-League Season 8 at The Arena in San Juan City. Orendain, a former member of the national team which played in the Asian Youth Volleyball Championship in 2008, spearheaded the Lady Stingers with 22 points, including a back-to-back smash that doomed their sister team’s bid.
It was CSB’s 11th straight defeat since the first conference of Season 7 last year or since winning in straight sets against the University San Jose Recoletos.
“We had a slow start. Medyo naninibago pa yung team,” said USLS asst. coach Carl Barredo, who took charge in the absence of head coach Roger Banzuela. “But good thing they also committed errors in the fifth set.”
Banzuela was in Bacolod City overseeing the Shakey’s Girls’ VLeague and will only join the team on April 9 along with libero Rebbie Delotino, the team’s other guest player.
The final set saw a thrilling exchange marked by nine deadlocks with no team leading by two points until Orendain’s down the line made it 11-9 before Gianes Dolar and American guest player Jayde Hair joined the fray for a commanding 13-9 edge.
USLS, however, fell to spate of errors after that, allowing the Blazers to get back in the game, 11-13.
But Orendain put the game beyond question with consecutive hits for USLS first victory after finishing sixth last year.
Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin
