Samantha Tiratira of Arellano in action against College of Saint Benilde in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge, August 29, 2026 at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City. PVL Media
MANILA — Arellano University is still unbeaten in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge after a hard-earned five-set victory over College of Saint Benilde on Saturday.
The Lady Chiefs overcame a fourth-set collapse and got the job done in five, 19-25, 25-17, 34-32, 16-25, 15-7, after a two-hour affair at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
With the victory, Arellano remained unbeaten at 3-0, while Benilde dropped to 1-2 in the tournament.
"Masayang masaya kami and syempre, top team caliber ng NCAA ang nakalaban namin kanina. Kumbaga, 'yong effort namin the past few days, nagbunga naman," Arellano head coach Obet Javer said.
"Ni-remind ko lang sila kung bakit [sila natalo] sa fourth set … pagdating ng fifth set, sinabihan ko sila na kung gusto niyo manalo, ipagtrabaho niyo 'yon kasi masasayang."
After surviving a grueling third set that lasted 39 minutes, the Lady Blazers bounced back in the fourth set, capitalizing on the Lady Chiefs’ late miscues to force a decider.
Leading 11-7 in the final set, the Lady Chiefs never looked back, closing the match with a 4-0 run capped by Cristana Servidad’s corner shot to preserve Arellano’s perfect start.
Samantha Tiratira paced Arellano with 13 points, while Servidad and Catherine Chu chipped in 12 points apiece.
Arellano will look for its fourth straight victory when it faces the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Meanwhile, Mary Borromeo and Camila Bartolome led the Lady Blazers with 18 points each, while Fionna Innocentes added 16 markers.
Benilde will look to bounce back against Adamson on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 5:00 p.m., still at the same venue.