College of St. Benilde launched its bid for a three-peat feat with an emphatic 25-15, 25-14, 25-23 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College yesterday in NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
With the exception of the third set, the Lady Blazers were nothing short of impressive as they claimed their first win of the season and 30th straight including a couple of 11-game title sweeps the last two seasons.
They were put to an acid test though in the third set when the Lady Generals seized a 21-19 edge but the back-to-back champions regrouped and went on a rampage from there when they took six of the last seven points that sealed the deal.
Michelle Gamit paced CSB with 10 points while Jade Gentapa and Gayle Pascual chipped in eight hits apice.
The game also saw the return of former skipper and league MVP Mycah Go from various knee injuries that sidelined her for more than a year.
“Kinakabahan ako, tagal na kasi hindi naglaro,” said the 23-year-old Cebu native, who added she’s already 60 percent before going into full strength.
In the men’s section earlier, EAC turned back CSB, 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12, to set in motion its bid to replicate, if not surpass, its Final Four finish a season ago.
Jan Ruther Abor came off the bench and unleashed a 26-point performance he laced with 25 booming kills while Marvin Williams Romero and captain Kenneth Batiancila chipped in 16 and 11 hits, respectively.
Games Tuesday (San Andres Gym)
7:30 a.m.- Mapua vs SSC-R (men’s)
10 a.m.- Mapua vs SSC-R (women’s)
2 p.m.- LPU vs San Beda (women’s)
5 p.m.- LPU vs San Beda (men’s)