Games today:
(San Andres Sports Complex)
9 a.m. — San Beda vs Letran
12 p.m. — San Beda vs Letran
2 p.m. — EAC vs Perpetual
4:30 p.m. — EAC vs Perpetual
College of Saint Benilde bucked a slow start and posted a 20-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-11 victory over upstart San Sebastian College to kick off its title defense in Season 98 National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila yesterday.
Lady Blazers assistant coach Jay Chua said they had to calm down the girls to make sure they were able to execute their plays properly despite the absence of Season 97 Most Valuable Player Mycah Go.
Go wasn’t able to play this year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last month.
“They were stiff in the first set and were nervous. We reminded them to relax and work on every point,” Chua said.
“The team is doing good even without Mycah. Every training, we always work on what we lack.”
Season 97 Finals MVP Gayle Pascual led Saint Benilde with 21 of her 26 points coming from attacks while Michelle Gamit dropped 12 points as the Lady Blazers picked up their first win of the season.
Team captain Cloanne Mondonedo had eight points to go with her 20 excellent sets for Saint Benilde.
Santos had 14 attacks and three aces for San Sebastian.
In the men’s division, Saint Benilde carved out a 25-17, 25-20, 25-18 win over San Sebastian.
Team captain Ronley Adviento and Georgie Gauani both scored nine points as the Blazers took their first win as the men’s tournament returns after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
