COLLEGE of Saint Benilde booked the last ticket to the next round after sweeping also-ran San Sebastian, 25-19, 25-18, 25-20, in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Blazers displayed composure and maturity especially in the third set, staving off the Lady Stags’ desperate attempt to extend the match.
Estoque leads way
Wielyn Estoque showed the way in Saint Benilde’s second straight win as it closed its Pool D campaign with a 2-1 win-loss record.
The veteran winger pounded 11 kills with one kill block and one ace for a game-high 13 points for the reigning three-peat NCAA champions, who joined seven teams from the UAAP in the playoffs of the tournament also backed by GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.
Saint Benilde coach Jerry Yee praised his wards for stepping up to the challenge.
“’Yan naman ang inaasahan ko sa kanila. Ganoon naman tayo, tuturuan sila ng tama and composure is a part of it. Also, matagal na tayo sa labas, sa SSL and other leagues so nakikita ko na nagma-mature naman sila, nagi-improve and nakikinig naman sila,” he said.
Saint Benilde faces University of the East in Pool E on Sunday at the start of the second round-robin phase, where two twice-to-beat advantages in the crossover quarterfinals are at stake.
Also in Pool E are three-peat-seeking National University and De La Salle.
University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo, Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines are in Pool F of the competition, which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and SM Tickets as technical partners.
San Sebastian rallied from a three-point deficit late in the third set to breathe down Saint Benilde’s neck, 21-20.
Clydel Catarig answered with a kill to ignite the Lady Blazers’ 4-0 closing barrage, which she herself punctuated with the match-clinching attack from the middle.
Catarig finished with nine points while Cristy Ondangan and Rhea Densing added seven and six markers, respectively, for the Lady Blazers.
San Sebastian, led by Christina Marasigan’s nine points, ended its campaign winless in three outings.
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