MANILA, Philippines — Guest team Southern Storm Melbourne showed resilience in coming back from huge deficits throughout the whole match to frustrate Letran, 26-24, 25-21, 25-19, for a great start in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Down by six early in the third set, the Australians pushed back with a blistering 19-7 rally to complete the sweep for a loud introduction in the competition backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea. Sammy Pila displayed her scoring prowess by dropping 12 points built on 10 kills, one kill block and an ace to lead Southern Stork Melbourne in the one-hour, 35-minute taming of the reigning NCAA champion.
“I’m really proud of how the team continued to play our game. This is a different style of volleyball than what we’re used to. But we stuck together,” the 5-foot-9 Pila said.
“We had a rough warm-up, but we stuck together, played our game, and were super supportive. I’m happy for everything,” added Pila, who also tallied five excellent receptions and four digs.
Middle blocker Steph Baker added nine points anchored on five attacks, three kill blocks and an ace while Hilary Hannagan and Rebekah Pocock added six markers each for the Australians, who took advantage of the Lady Knights’ atrocious 29 errors.
Letran threatened to extend the match after squandering leads in the first two sets when it opened a 12-6 advantage in the third frame.
But the unfazed Southern Storm Melbourne countered with a telling rally and took the lead, 18-17, after a miscue by the Lady Knights.
Letran tied it at 18 before the trio of Pila, Hannagan and Mayra Pacioni connived in a 6-0 blast to reach match point. Reeza Abayon saved a point for Letran, only for the Lady Knights to surrender the match with a net touch infraction.
Southern Storm Melbourne will try to make it two in a row against Enderun Colleges as action in the competition supported by Jetour, Baic, Eurotel, Victory Liner Rent & Go, F2 Logistics, Summit Natural Drinking Water, PusoP.com and Smart Sports, continues on Monday.
It was a frustrating outing for the Lady Knights after seeing the separations they built early in all three sets erased by the persistent Aussies.
Letran was ahead 16-11 in the opening frame, only for Southern Storm Melbourne to counter with a 13-5 run for a setpoint advantage, 24-21.
The Lady Knights saved three set points but Kaizah Yuno killed their momentum with a service error before Pila hammered down the set-winning spike.
Letran also wasted a four-point advantage midway into the second frame.
Judiel Nitura paced the Lady Knights with 12 points, all coming off attacks, while Joralyn Panangin and Carlyn Tizon chipped in seven markers each.
The Lady Knights battle Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club on Monday. All games in the competition, backed by technical partners Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology and Team Rebel Sports, are available live and on-demand via PusoP.com livestream and Solar Sports. TMT
