MANILA, Philippines – University of the East's Lai Bendong bolstered her case for the Best Setter award in UAAP Season 81 after piloting the Lady Warriors to a comfortable victory over Adamson University on Saturday.

With Bendong pulling the strings, the Lady Warriors cruised past Adamson, 25-14, 25-19, 25-22, for their third win of the women's volleyball tournament. The playmaker was credited with 24 excellent sets as UE converted 36 of 147 spikes in the match.

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As the season heads into its final stretch, Bendong has established herself as the leading setter in the UAAP, averaging 7.09 excellent sets per set. This puts her ahead of reigning Best Setter Deanna Wong of Ateneo (6.42 excellent sets per set) and University of the Philippines veteran Ayel Estrañaro (6.21 excellent sets per set).

No one is more surprised at this development than Bendong herself.

"'Yung feeling ko kasi talaga, kumbaga hindi ako naniniwala. Parang feeling ko din na, 'Talaga ba?'" said Bendong after Saturday's game.

By her own admission, Bendong's playmaking remains a work in progress. Now in her final year in the UAAP, she gives full credit to the UE spikers for constantly adjusting to her sets.

"Minsan sa laro, makikita mo talaga, wala akong set, 'yung mga spiker ko ang naga-adjust," she said. "So parang, 'yung standing man ngayon na nasa no. 1 ako, feeling ko nun, nakaka-proud."

"Para siya sa mga teammates ko, actually, kasi sila talaga naga-adjust sa set ko. Kasi ako din, personally, alam ko sa sarili ko, hindi talaga maganda 'yung set ko. 'Yun 'yung nakikita ko sa sarili ko. Nakakatuwa lang din," she added.

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Bendong is grateful to players such as Judith Abil and Mean Mendrez, who receive the bulk of her passes. The UE middle blockers, too, have shown great patience with her playmaking.

But Bendong is most grateful for UE libero Kath Arado, who has made life so much easier for her as a setter. Arado's receiving has been remarkable – tallying a 61% efficiency after 12 games. As Bendong puts it, she rarely has to chase after first balls because she knows their libero will provide her with good passes all game long.

"Arado 'yun eh," she said. "Wala akong laban doon, Arado 'yun eh… Pag si Kath [ang nag-receive], nasa first row na ako, hindi na ako gagalaw eh."

Abil, too, has been excellent in the backrow for UE, registering a 42.04% rate in receiving.

Bendong won't deny that playing with a libero of Arado's caliber puts more pressure on her as a setter. Arado has been nothing short of sensational for UE in Season 81, and her hard work on defense has kept the Lady Warriors competitive against teams with greater firepower.

"Sa part ko, sobrang pressure 'yun, lalo na pag naputo ni Kath, tapos ako magse-set, tapos bigla ko mado-double," said Bendong.

"Sa part ko parang, 'Hala Kath, sorry, sorry, Kath. Sorry.' Sobrang pressure din kasi maganda ang receive nila talaga, kaya kailangan ko mag-double time na i-set nang maganda," she said.

Despite Arado's defensive brilliance and Bendong's setting efficiency, the Lady Warriors are still not going to make it to the Final 4 as they still only have a 3-9 win-loss record with two games left on their schedule.

Yet it is already mission accomplished for the Lady Warriors as their veterans have made it their goal to lift their team from the league-cellar. UE had been mired in eighth place for as long as Bendong has been playing; this season, they are at No. 7, ahead of the Lady Falcons.

"Gusto naming iangat talaga," said Bendong. "Hindi man umabot sa Final 4, basta naiangat namin 'yung rank namin."

And if she gets the Best Setter trophy? "Siguro, blessing na lang din 'yun ni Lord," said Bendong.

"Ang goal lang namin talaga, umangat kami sa ranking," she stressed. "Hindi na namin iniisip 'yung individual awards."

For the first time, the UAAP will follow the FIVB standard in giving awards and thus will recognize the best players per position, instead of per skill. Bendong is the frontrunner to win the Best Setter trophy, even with UE's record.

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