Benilde seals perfect season
College of Saint Benilde proved too big and too strong for Arellano University yesterday as it completed an 11-0 sweep of the Season 97 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) volleyball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Starring tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) pick Mycah Go, who provided the much-needed leadership on the floor, Saint Benilde posted a 26-24, 25-12, 25-9 win that gave the school its second NCAA volley crown since 2016.
The Lady Blazers got the job done in an hour and 13 minutes, duplicating the rare sweep that Perpetual Help System Dalta achieved in 2012.
Saint Benilde’s latest triumph was long overdue.
Just before the start of the Covid pandemic, the Lady Blazers were sporting a 7-0 record and looked on course for a sweep.
But owing to the lockdown, their title run had to be put on hold.
Saint Benilde sparkled in every facet of the game, scoring 36 attacks and dominating in kill blocks (12-2) and aces (6-1).
Leading the charge for the Lady Blazers was Finals MVP Gayle Pascual, who drilled in 10 of his 14 points from the attack zone while Clone Mondonedo tossed 12 excellent sets.
Jade Gentapa was efficient on both offense and defense for Saint Benilde, adding 11 markers to go with 10 digs and five receptions.
Lady Blazers mentor Jerry Yee, who was also awarded as the Coach of the Year, was ecstatic after winning his first title in the collegiate level.
“I’m happy and thankful for the award. I’m just happy we managed to finish the season,” said Yee, who has been with Saint Benilde since 2018.
“There were some factors that affected our mind games but throughout the match, the players are calm.”
Pauline de Guzman was the only Arellano player who reached double digits as the Lady Chiefs’ three-peat reign as champions came to a close.
Before the NCAA title was lifted, Go was not only named MVP but the 1st Best Outside Hitter in the oldest collegiate league.
San Sebastian’s Kat Santos was hailed as the Rookie of the Year while teammate Reyann Cañete was named the Best Opposite Spiker.
Another pair of teammates in Venice Puzon and Zonxi Dahab of Lyceum of the Philippines University received the Best Setter and Best 1st Best Middle Blocker, respectively.
Nicole Ong of Mapua University was awarded as the 2nd Best Middle Blocker while Alex Salvaloza of Emilio Aguinaldo College got the Best Libero honors.
Dolly Verzosa of Jose Rizal University, who led the school to its first postseason win in the NCAA, was awarded as the 2nd Best Middle Blocker.