Veteran Gayle Pascual stepped up big time as reigning champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde bucked a slow start to eke out a 20-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-11 win over San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the NCAA Season 98 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday.
The Lady Blazers improved to 1-0 to kick off their title defense bid while the Lady Stags went 0-1.
It was a tough start for Benilde as San Sebastian displayed dominance in the opening set behind usual gunners Kath Santos, Amaka Tan, and KJ Dionisio, who was converted from middle blocker to open spiker.
But the Taft crew regained its touch come second set, racing to a 23-16 lead with Pascual, Michelle Gamit, and Cristy Ondangan steering the ship. But the Lady Stags tried to stage a comeback with Santos instigating a 6-0 run, 23-22.
Santos then committed a service error before Jessa Dorog went for a kill to level the game.
Benilde pulled away from then on, building a 23-12 cushion in the third as an unsuccessful challenge from the Lady Stags sealed a 2-1 set lead for the reigning champions.
The Lady Stags couldn’t recover from a deep hole as Benilde built a 16-6 lead in the fourth en route to a hard-fought victory.
Pascual dropped 26 points built on 21 attacks, three blocks, and two service aces alongside nine digs while Gamit chipped in 12 markers. Ondangan had 11, and team captain Cloanne Mondeñedo chimed in with eight for the Lady Blazers in the win.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
