BY ABBY TORALBA
DEFENDING two-time champion College of St. Benilde whipped Jose Rizal University 25-13, 25-12, 25-20 yesterday to regain the solo lead and extend its streak to 32 spanning four years in the 99th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
With Lady Blazers coach Jerry Yee tinkering with his rotation anew, none of the CSB players finished in double figures, with Michelle Gamit and Wielyn Estoque leading the way with eight points apiece.
It was the three-peat feat-seeking champion’s third win in a row this season and 32nd in all, counting the pair of magnificent 11-game title sweeps the last two years and the seven in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the other game, San Beda edged San Sebastian 25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10, to snare its first win in three outings.
The Lady Stags stumbled to 0-3.
Yee though stressed they’re not into counting wins and streaks.
“We try not to mind those, we don’t even count,” said Yee.
What he’s looking at is how his team is developing.
“Kulang pa sa execution, dami pa kulang, dami pa aayusin. Hopefully, maayos naman,” he said.
Except for team captain Jessa Dorog and their two liberos, all the players fielded by Yee scored at least a point.
Yee attributed the constant player rotation to the transition period his team is undergoing as four of his starters–Jade Gentapa, Cloanne Mondonedo, Michelle Gamit and Gayle Pascual–are graduating.
