Graduating Lady Blazers out to replicate collegiate success with PVL's Zus Coffee

Four De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde veterans in Gayle Pascual, Mich Gamit, Jade Gentapa, and Cloanne Mondoñedo are bidding goodbye to the NCAA and are now looking to make the leap to the professional scene.

The quartet, though, will not be parting ways from each other as they will all play for the same team in the PVL with Zus Coffee, a rebrand of Strong Group Athletics.

And they hope to have the same success in the top flight league, especially with Benilde head coach Jerry Yee also calling the shots for the Thunderbelles.

However, they know it will be a tough and daunting task to duplicate their success in NCAA, which saw the Taft crew capture the school's first-ever three-peat title in the women's volleyball division.

"Medyo mahirap na trabaho ‘yun since magagaling talaga ‘yung nasa PVL pero let’s see kung hanggang saan kami kaya dalhin ng talents namin and skills," Pascual said on the heels of their Game 2 win against Letran on Sunday.

[It will be a tough job because the players in the PVL are really good but let's see how far our talents and skills can take us.]

Pascual shared their bond on and off the court is unmatched, especially spending the past few years together.

"Masaya kasi lahat naman ng graduating players ayon ‘yung inaasam, na gumraduate nang champion ka," the 24-year-old opposite hitter said.

"Sana hanggang sa pro magkakasama pa rin kami kasi ‘yung bond namin okay talaga and kapag nakikita ko sila, nakakalma ako."

[Happy because all graduating players want the same thing, to graduate as a champion... I hope we stay together in the pros. Our bond is really okay and I'm calm when I see them.]

The four aces were a huge part of Benilde's unprecedented dynasty, winning 40 straight games since 2020 while also seizing three titles in the process.

And they made sure to give their best in the final game of their NCAA career.

Pascual top-scored the squad against the Lady Knights, pouring in 15 points alongside seven digs en route to bagging her second Finals MVP plum. Gamit and Gentapa churned out eight markers while newly-crowned MVP Mondoñedo garnered 16 excellent sets.

But even with that core still intact once they make a jump to the PVL, the Benilde squad was careful to temper its expectations, given the high level of competition in the pro league.

"Hindi gano’n kadali eh, syempre magta-transition sila and iba ‘yung tao do’n, iba ‘yung kalaban do’n, iba ‘yung depensa, iba ‘yung blocking," Yee said. "Hindi gano’ng kadali pero of course, job namin na i-prepare sila and job nila na maging handa and maging magaling na player sa next level."

[It's not that easy, they will transition and the competition there is different, the defense, the blocking... It's not that easy. But of course, it's our job to prepare them and it's their job to be ready and become good player at that next level.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News