The College of St. Benilde Blazers celebrate after winning the bronze medal in the 2024 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals, July 16, 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/SSL

MANILA -- College of St. Benilde clinched a third-place finish in the 2024 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals after a thrilling five-set win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Wewe Estoque took charge in the closing stretch to power the Lady Blazers to a 23-25, 25-14, 19-25, 25-20, 17-15 in Game 2 of the best-of-3 series for the bronze medal in the preseason tournament.

Estoque scored the last four points for the reigning NCAA champions, capped by back-to-back aces as they completed a sweep of the series.

"Nagtiwala lang kami sa sarili at sa team and teamwork din. Kung ano ang mali namin sa court pinag-uusapan namin na kailangan naming dumepensa kasi yun ang kulang namin and sa opensa din," said Rhea Densing, who had 24 points off 20 kills and four blocks.

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Estoque had 18 points while Zamantha Nolasco and Clydel Catarig added 14 markers apiece for the Lady Blazers, who took the series opener, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-17, last Monday.

In Game 2, the Lady Blazers had to overhaul a 1-2 set deficit, with Densing scoring four of their last five points in Set 4 to shatter a 20-all deuce and force a decider.

In the fifth, Estoque scored two of the Lady Blazer's three unanswered points to give her squad a 13-12 lead, before the Lady Knights fired back with consecutive hits from Nizelle Martin and Gia Maquilang that pushed Letran at matchpoint.

But Letran middle blocker Angelique Ledesma committed an error in the next play that extended the set before Maquilang scored on a kill for the matchpoint advantage.

Estoque knotted the game at 15 off a tip before sealing the deal at the service line to finish off the same team CSB beat in the NCAA Season 99 finals.

"Ayaw na rin namin paabutin sa Game 3 kasi mostly sa amin masakit na ang katawan at may mga iniinida na sa braso," said Densing.

Maquilang paced Letran with 22 points highlighted by 19 kills, Martin got 15 points, while Judiel Nitura and Royce Dela Cruz chipped in 10 each.