The College of Engineering’s (COE) Draco proved that resilience is the ultimate game-changer, overcoming a first-set deficit and a massive scoring gap in the second to orchestrate a heart-stopping 2-1 victory (23-25, 28-26, 15-10) against the formidable College of Arts and Social Sciences’ (CASS) Cassanova squad during the PALAKASAN 2026 women’s volleyball pre-game on Tuesday, March 17.
The win was anchored by a masterclass performance from Player of the Game: Balsamo (COE #14), who dominated the net with a staggering 20 points.
The opening set began with the COE Dragons taking the first point, but the CASS Arachnids quickly established their defensive wall. CASS’ Malagar, #2, and Cabalo, #11, combined for early service aces, with the latter “tall tower” also using her height to shut down COE’s aerial attack with clinical blocking.
Despite Draco’s Balsamo (#14) repeatedly hammering the floor to keep the score close, Cassanova’s Bongalos (#6) used clever faints to keep them off-balance. Late in the set, the tension spiked as Balsamo tied the game at 20-20. However, a costly rotation error by the Dragons and a final, precise rally allowed the Arachnids to snatch the first set, 25-23.
The second set appeared to be heading toward a Cassanova sweep as they mounted a commanding 21-14 lead. Their #11, Cabalo, continued her reign at the net with a combination of blocks and spikes, while service aces from their #13, Leonor, pushed Draco into a deep hole.
Facing multiple match points and a suffocating scoreboard, COE refused to blink. Balsamo became a relentless force, scoring consecutive points to erase the seven-point deficit and force a 24-24 tie.
In a high-stakes deuce battle that saw both teams trade service errors and match points, Balsamo finally broke the 26-26 deadlock with a thunderous spike to steal the set at 28-26, earning loud cheers from the audience.
By the final set, the momentum had fully swung. Although CASS’ Cabalo fought to keep her team alive with blocks and faints to tie the score at 8-8, COE’s depth began to shine. A clutch service ace from COE’s Gingco, #11, and the pinpoint accuracy of Tayros, #12, finally broke the Cassanova defense.
Leading 11-9, COE’s Tayros took over the finishing duties, drilling two massive spikes to reach match point. A final error from CASS sent the ball to the floor, sealing COE’s 15-10 victory and completing an epic comeback that showcased the Dragons’ true strength.
Post-game, COE’s Cabasag (#1) reflected on the immense pressure of those late-game ties and the collective trust that fueled their comeback.
When asked who she relied on the most during the crucial moments of the match, she said, “We relied on everyone during the ties of the sets because volleyball is not a one-man game and everyone has skills; we trusted each other to deliver their best.”
As Draco celebrates a hard-earned victory, the focus shifts back to the drawing board for Cassanova, leaving one question: will CASS rediscover their spark and rise again in their next matches?
Written by Raneshka Angela Gudes
Proofread by Andrea Ross Sedero
Photos by Andrea Karla Deligero and Sheizel Ann Gomez
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