University of the East pulled off a thrilling upset, overcoming a two-set deficit to stun defending champions College of Saint Benilde with a dramatic reverse sweep, 23-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-11, and secure the bronze medal in the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Sunday.
Demonstrating remarkable grit and composure, the Lady Warriors weathered the intense pressure of a back-and-forth fourth set that went down to the wire, forcing a decisive fifth frame.
UE seized control with a pivotal run midway through the final set, pulling away from a 5-all count. The returning Gelai Gajero played a key role, while Riza Nogales delivered consecutive points that ignited the Lady Warriors' surge, culminating in back-to-back kills from Casiey Dongallo to secure the win.
“We played some of our games without Gajero and Dongallo. We even lost (Jenalyn) Umayam, one of our starters as well to injury,” said UE head coach Obet Vital. “So, that was three starters, but we did well. The rest of the girls stepped up and they kept us in the elims and the playoffs.”
Vital praised the team's resilience, as the Lady Warriors rallied behind their remaining players, proving their depth and determination in the high-stakes moments of the match.
Rhea Densing delivered a superb performance, scoring the majority of her game-high 28 points in the first two sets, helping last year's champions, the Lady Blazers, secure a 2-0 advantage early on.
However, the Lady Red Warriors made key adjustments starting in the third set, sparking a remarkable turnaround with key contributions from Dongallo in the middle.
Despite a strong surge from CSB, UE held firm, winning the next two sets with Dongallo, Gajero and Kai Cepada spearheading the Lady Warriors' comeback.
Gajero was a force to be reckoned with, exploding for 29 points on 25 attacks, three blocks and an ace. Her defensive effort, particularly in the fifth, proved crucial for UE's victory.
Dongallo contributed 20 points, firing 18 spikes from various angles, while Cepada added 17 points to complete the balanced offensive attack.
For the Lady Blazers, Mary Grace Borromeo backed up Densing with 16 points, including 13 attacks and three service aces, while Zam Nolasco stood strong in the middle, chipping in 10 markers.
It was a morale-boosting finish for UE, which had been on the backfoot after CSB’s strong start. True to their moniker, the Lady Warriors refused to quit, coming alive with a dominant performance in the third set to stave off elimination.
