REIGNING NCAA champion College of St. Benilde humbled University of the East yesterday 25-18, 25-21, 25-4, to kick off its playoff campaign with a bang in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Blazers needed only 68 minutes to score the easy win, highlighted by a massive 21-point demolition of the Lady Warriors in the third set to tie Adamson for the second spot with 3-1 cards in Pool F led by unbeaten Far Eastern U (4-0).
Cloanne Mondoñedo led St. Benilde’s fine-tuned offense with 15 excellent sets and all her teammates also scored, with Zamantha Nolasco having 12 points.
Nolasco had nine hits, three blocks and an ace while Jade Gentapa added 11 points.
Backstopping them was Gayle Pascual with eight points followed by five each from Michelle Gamit, Corrine Apostol and Wielyn Estoque.
Jerry Yee, the newly appointed mentor of UE, sat on St. Benilde’s bench while his deputy, Dr. Obet Vital, called the shots for the Lady Warriors in the battle between his two teams.
In the SSL National Invitationals, St. Benilde absorbed an early exit in the quarterfinals but is poised for a deep run this time in the SSL Season 2 by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc.
Ranged against a vastly improved UE side, the Lady Blazers made it look so easy behind the defensive dominance of Nolasco, who patrolled the net with towering blocks after one another.
Her swat anchored St. Benilde’s 17-11 rally in the first set from a close duel heading home followed by another clinching block late in the second set, where the team unleashed a 3-0 closeout from a narrow 22-21 cushion.
It was all Lady Blazers from there on, allowing only four points in a magnificent volleyball masterclass.
