College of Saint Benilde started off strong and never looked back as it denied Mapua University in straight sets, 25-17, 25-11, 25-12 to remain unbeaten in the NCAA Season 97 women's volleyball tournament on Tuesday.
CSB maintained grip of the top spot with a spotless 5-0 win-loss card while Mapua, which was carrying a three-game winning streak into the match, dropped to 3-2 to tie Lyceum of the Philippines University at fourth.
The Lady Blazers leaned once again to the troika of team captain Mycah Go, Gayle Pascual, and Jade Gentapa as they quickly raced to two sets ahead.
The ever reliable Go finished with another all-around performance of 12 points off 10 attacks and two aces to go along with 10 excellent receptions while Gentapa chipped in 12 markers as well. Pascual chimed in with nine points to help the cause.
Go notched two of the last three points of CSB in the opening set, 24-17, before Pascual converted from the middle area for the win, 25-17. But CSB further asserted dominance in the second with Mapua committing nine errors along with just two attacks.
The wards of head coach Jerry Yee immediately rocketed to a 16-7 spread that gave CSB the opportunity to shuffle its personnel on the court. Back-to-back points from middle blocker Mich Gamit then finished off the second frame for CSB, 25-11.
Mapua, dubbed as this season's darkhorse after escaping some tough teams in its previous matches, failed to restore order in the third as CSB completed its fourth sweep this season.
The Lady Cardinals had a total of only 19 attacks in the game, seven of which came from Tere Manalo. Nicole Ong, who tallied a career-high 21 points in the previous game, managed to convert just one point in the loss.
CSB returns to action on Friday against another darkhorse in San Sebastian College-Recoletos while Mapua will seek for a bounce back win against San Beda University later in the day.
—JMB, GMA News
