The long NCAA championship wait is over for the Letran Lady Knights.
It came Friday via an epic 15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12 victory by Letran over College of St. Benilde that sealed the former its first women’s volleyball championship in 27 years in NCAA Season 101 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
It was the ninth crown overall for the pontifical school, but this one was possibly the sweetest as it took it almost three decades to claim this one, following its back-to-back title reign in 1999.
Fittingly, the one who orchestrated it was the same person who helped the school win its last crown when she was still a player — Letran coach Mayeth Carolino.
“We’ve been praying for this and we really wanted to become champion since Day One,” said the rookie coach.
It ended the four-year reign of the Lady Blazers, who didn’t go down without a fight and gave it all by forcing a fifth and deciding set.
But in the end, it was Letran who came through with the biggest point in the end including that laser-like service ace by Joralyn Panangin that appeared to have frozen CSB up in sealing the title.
Verenicce Colendra came out of nowhere and unleashed a magical 23-point effort including some in the deciding frame that helped the Lady Knights seal the deal.
Judiel Nitura was eventually named Finals MVP, but none shone brighter than Colendra when the team needed it most.
