CSB blows hot, cold but pulls thru in decider

St. Benilde blew a two-set lead but recovered big in the decider as it hacked out a 25-18, 25-20, 26-28, 23-25, 15-8 decision over erstwhile unbeaten La Salle in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge at the Paco Arena in Manila on Friday.

James Laguit and Roniey Adviento came through with clutch hits to help anchor the Blazers’ surge in the fifth set, 10-4, holding sway all the way to the finish to snap a two-game skid for a 1-2 card in Pool A.

The Green Archers slipped to 2-1.

“We prepared in a way na gusto rin nilang manalo," said St. Benilde assistant coach Jose Roque, who took over from head coach Arnold Laniog. "Somehow na-achieve naman yung gusto naming mangyari." 

Setter Cholo Fajardo produced 23 excellent sets that led to 61 attacks. 

Rookie Arnel Aguilar scored 15 attack points and finished with a block and an ace while Adviento matched the former’s 17-point output that included three blocks. 

Noel Kampton came away with a game-best 24 points on 22 attacks and two aces, while skipper Vince Maglinao delivered 12 spikes and one block for the Green Archers, who failed to sustain their fightback sparked by a big escape in an extended third set battle and a tough win in the fourth as the Blazers took eight of the first 12 points in the fifth before Laguit and Adviento gave St. Benilde a six-point cushion which they never relinquished.