BY ABBY TORALBA
COLLEGE of St. Benilde moved within a win of a perfect season and the Promised Land yesterday.
Hardly showing rust despite an 11-day respite, the Lady Blazers ripped defending three-time champion Arellano University 25-21, 25-11, 25-10 in Game 1 of their best-of-3 finals battle for the 97th NCAA women’s volleyball tournament crown at The Arena in San Juan.
Opposite hitter Gayle Pascual fired 17 points for CSB, while middle blocker Michelle Gamit chipped in 11 markers.
Skipper Mycah Go had eight points, 12 digs and four excellent receptions, while open spiker Jade Gentapa scored seven markers for the Lady Blazers. Setter Cloanne Mondonedo also tossed 14 excellent sets.
CSB came off a 25-15, 25-15, 25-14 triumph over the Lady Chiefs that completed the Lady Blazers’ 9-0 eliminations sweep last July 9.
Arellano failed to score a big follow-up to its 19-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-17 win over Jose Rizal University in their stepladder semis tiff last Sunday.
CSB seeks to win it all for the first time since 2016 in Game 2 tomorrow at the same venue.
A deciding third match, if necessary, will be on Sunday also at the San Juan-based arena.
“Iyong 11-day rest, ang focus natin ay iyong recovery so hindi tayo masyadong nag-hard practices so probably iyong game speed nawala pero napag-usapan naman namin iyon na, iyon ang mangyayari,” Lady Blazers coach Jerry Yee said.
“Kailangan naming mag-adjust. Buti na lang noong second set, third set, nandoon na tayo,” he added.
The Taft-based spikers raced to a fast start in the first set but the Lady Chiefs recovered and tied it 16-all.
CSB countered with a 4-0 run to take a 20-16 lead en route to bagging the opening frame.
The Lady Blazers never looked back from there.
Skipper Carla Donato led the Lady Chiefs with nine points, while middle blocker Trina Abay had seven markers.
