The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Lady Blazers started their 2023 Shakey’s Super League Preseason Championship second round campaign on a high note after sweeping the University of the East (UE) Lady Red Warriors, 3-0, on Oct. 15 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The Lady Blazers are on track of dominating pre-season tournaments as they take their first playoffs game for the 2023 Shakey’s Super League Preseason Championship against another team coached by the Lady Blazers’ tactician, Jerry Yee. Although both teams are handled by the decorated mentor, Coach Yee was seen on the sidelines wearing the green and white. Jade Gentapa initiated the scoring for the Lady Blazers with an open spike, followed by a block point by Mich Gamit, and an attack by Jessa Dorog, 4-2. Casiey Dongallo, the opposite hitter from the Lady Red Warriors, provided an early resistance for the Lady Blazers, making her presence felt with powerful attacks. Gayle Pascual, Gentapa, and Dorog tallied consecutive crosscourts attacks in an attempt to make a comfortable lead, 10-8. Unforced errors by the Lady Red Warriors favored the Taft squad, boosting their scoring and growing their lead. The top middle blocker of the league, Zamantha Nolasco, made an immediate impact with a block point and a quick attack from a successful set of the team captain, Cloanne Mondoñedo, 18-12. An attack by the main opposite hitter, Gentapa, ignited a comfortable lead for the Lady Blazers, 20-14. However, KC Cepada of UE, attempted to cut the dominant run of the Lady Blazers with a power attack, 21-17. The ladies in green and white took advantage of their twin towers in Nolasco and Gamit, utilizing the setting prowess of Mondeñedo to provide powerful quick attacks in finishing the set, 25-18.
The second stringers of the Lady Blazers saw action in the following set. Wielyn Estoque handled the first point for the team in the opening of the set, 1-1. Cristy Ondangan tallied immediate back-to-back points after nailing a successful block and a quick attack, 5-5. Corrine Apostol also contributed early in the set with a strong open hit, 7-7. But errors plagued the offense of the Lady Blazers as the Lady Red Warriors managed to make a four-point lead, 7-11. An Estoque attack managed to stop the offensive bleeding for the Lady Blazers, 8-11. Clydel Catarig and Rhea Densing also managed to tally points, aided by the successful sets of Chenae Basarte, 10-11. A crosscourt attack by Estoque tied the game, 11-11, and a following powerful spike by Densing gave the Lady Blazers the lead, 12-11. The second stringers were then replaced by the starters after the second technical timeout. Pascual continued to dominate in the second set with a strong down-the-line hit, 20-17. But Dongallo raised the hopes for UE as she successfully landed down powerful attacks, 20-19. Gentapa ignited late in the second set, crafting her own 3-0 run, while a block point for Nolasco ended the set, 25-21, in favor of the Lady Blazers.
The third set saw a completely different turn of events. Pascual and Gentapa made the opening rallies after nailing a successful run with a dominating offensive momentum, 6-2. Nolasco managed to execute successful quick attacks from Mondeñedo sets, 11-3. Defense was a top priority for the Lady Blazers as they managed to gain a double-digit lead after a few minutes into the set, 13-3. Dorog managed to splice the blockers of the Lady Red Warriors for an easy attack before Nolasco dropped a statement 3-0 run, 18-3. The offensive tempo of UE was really down, committing errors after errors on both ends of the court. Apostol made her own 4-0 run with a backrow attack and consecutive aces to finish the game, 25-4, with Benilde taking the win.
Mondeñedo was hailed player of the game with 15 excellent sets and a block. Nolasco was the main scorer of the team with 12 points in 9 blocks and 3 attacks.
The Lady Blazers now hold a 3-1 record and are set to face the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws on Oct. 21, 2:00 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. The match will be aired live through the Facebook page of Shakey’s Super League and will be televised live on Plus Network.
Box Scores:
DLS-CSB (3): Nolasco 12, Gentapa 11, Pascual 8, Gamit 5, Apostol 5, Estoque 5, Dorog 4, Densing 3, Catarig 2, Ondangan 2, Mondeñedo 1, Getigan 0, Estenzo 0
UE (0): Dongallo 8, Cepada 7, Famulagan 3, Balingit 3, Nogales 3, Castillo 2, Rojo 2, Canete 2, Madriaga 1, Ecalia, 0, Villamor 0, Fernandez 0, Nieva 0, Zeta 0
