BY ABBY TORALBA
COLLEGE of St. Benilde reached the Promised Land capped by a perfect campaign last Friday in the 97th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament.
Lady Blazers coach Jerry Yee is convinced that with an intact core, his charges still have what it takes next season.
“Tiwala ako sa girls dahil masipag iyong girls and then nakita ko iyong abilities ng girls, kasama ko na iyan matagal na so magkakakilala kami, kilala ko sila. Matagal ng ipino-form iyang batch of girls na iyan, magkakabatch sila halos. Supposedly, pipeline ko pa iyan for another university before so always naman tayong may binibuild na players and then ready tayo na umangat,” Yee said.
“Mayroon kaming, kahit this year, mayroon kaming incoming na apat na rookies na sakto sa puwesto, sa posisyon kung makukulangan kami. Tuloy-tuloy naman iyong program,” he added.
The Fil-Chinese tactician spoke after CSB dethroned Arellano University, scoring a 26-24, 25-12, 25-9 victory in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals battle.
Finals MVP Gayle Pascual led the Lady Blazers with 14 points, while open hitter Jade Gentapa added 11 markers.
Season MVP and First Best Open Spiker Mycah Go chipped in eight points, 15 digs, and four excellent receptions, while setter Cloanne Mondonedo tossed 12 excellent sets and three points for the Taft-based squad, which ripped the Lady Chiefs 25-21, 25-11, 25-11 in Game 1 last Wednesday.
CSB closed out the race-to-2 series 2-0 and annexed its first crown since 2016.
Yee admitted his team hurdled adversities and were given fits despite proving untouchable with an 11-0 record overall in the season.
“Ang hirap. Pandemic, nakakulong tayo and then the first news na narinig mo na puwede ng lumabas, puwede nang whatever, napaka-excited natin. We met sometimes sa Pangasinan pa kasi nandoon iyong farm ni Danny Ildefonso, doon kami nagkikita kumbaga tino-tour ko iyong kambal niya and then some of the girls sobrang atat na sa activities, so doon kami unang-una nagkita after a few years,” Yee said.
“As it should be. Ganoon naman lahat, kahit Arellano pa iyan o Baste pa iyan, sila din naman may target on their backs so iyong other programs nag-i-improve talaga.”
San Sebastian College’s Katherine Santos emerged as the Rookie of the Year, Jose Rizal University’s Dolly Grace was Second Best Outside Spiker, while Lyceum’s Zonxi Dahab and Nicole Ong of Mapua University were named First and Second Best Middle Blockers, respectively.
Venice Puzon of the Lady Pirates stood out as the Best Setter, Lady Stag Reyann Cañete bagged the Best Opposite Spiker plum, and Alex Salvaloza of Emilio Aguinaldo College was awarded Best Libero.
