Far Eastern University and College of Saint Benilde stamped their class on opening day of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals Batangas Leg, scoring convincing victories Friday at the University of Batangas Millennium Gym in Batangas City.
The Lady Tamaraws fended off a late third-set push from Letran to secure a 25-13, 25-17, 25-21 win.
Meanwhile, the reigning four-time NCAA champions Lady Blazers dominated host University of Batangas, 25-8, 25-17, 25-15, for a rousing start in the Luzon stop of the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.
FEU, last year’s runner-up, cruised through the first two frames but faltered in the third when its second unit took over. They allowed the Lady Knights to cut a five-point deficit to two, 23-21, late in the set.
Team captain and main setter Tin Ubaldo, who came off the bench, steadied the ship with her veteran presence. Ia David delivered a clutch kill before Letran’s Verenicce Colendra committed the last of her squad’s 21 errors to hand FEU the opening-day win.
“Iisa lang ang sistema pero ‘yung in-game adjustments sa kanila talaga yun. Maganda yung start namin pero medyo nag-off tayo sa third set because sa mix ng mga players,” Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak said.
Clarisse Loresco spearheaded FEU’s balanced attack with 11 points in her return to the middle blocker position, tallying seven kills, three blocks, and an ace.
She got ample support from Faida Bakanke with 10 markers, while David, Alyzza Devosora, and Gerzel Petallo chipped in five apiece. Ubaldo added eight excellent sets in just two frames of action.
On the other hand, CSB flexed its depth and experience against the Lady Brahmans.
Rhea Densing fired 12 points on 10 attacks and two blocks, while middle blocker Zamantha Nolasco contributed 11 markers, four coming from kill blocks.
Shahanna Lleses also delivered 10 points as the Lady Blazers displayed their trademark balance and composure under assistant coach Onyok Getigan, who took over while head coach Jerry Yee was still unavailable due to coaching ZUS Coffee in the PVL Invitational.
“Masaya naman kasi fresh pa ang mga ito galing sa ibang liga kaya nandoon pa yung kondisyon,” said Getigan, who maximized his bench rotation once his starters built early separation.
“’Yun nga ang sabi ko sa mga bata na i-maintain na nila kung ano ang ginagawa nila para ‘yung mga rookie kahit papaano maipasok isa-isa. Diyan kasi kumukuha ng kompiyansa ang mga bata kapag binigyan mo ng pagkakataon na maglaro.”
CSB quelled a brief UB rally in the third frame when the hosts pulled within four, 19-15, before closing with a 6-0 run capped by consecutive hits from Fionna Innocentes.
Riza Drice was the lone bright spot for the Lady Brahmans with 10 points on eight kills and two aces.
UB also suffered a setback as open spiker Jaimee Bacolod sprained her right ankle in the second set after landing awkwardly on a jump serve.
The tournament — also supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, F2 Logistics, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, SM Tickets, and PusoP.com as technical partners — will feature two marquee showdowns on Day 2, with FEU facing University of Batangas and Letran colliding with NCAA rival CSB in a rematch of last year’s SSL rivalry.
Games are streamed live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
