The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Lady Blazers picked up their fifth win as they made quick work of the University of Perpetual Help System (UPHSD) DALTA Lady Altas, 3-0, in the 2023 V-League Collegiate Challenge today, Sept. 15, at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center.
A series of errors greeted the Lady Blazers as they opened the game with a 4-8 cushion brought by a net touch and a series of service errors. Quick attacks from Gayle Pascual and Mich Gamit dismissed the early-game jitters for the Taft squad, sparking a 4-0 run for an 8-8 tie. The heroic offensive performance of Benilde’s attackers sent the Lady Altas to a scoring slump as the Lady Blazers quickly climbed from 16-15 to 22-15. Clydel Catarig brought her team to set point after a service attack followed by a service error from the red and black side to secure the first set, 25-18.
The second set saw more constant deadlocks as the Lady Altas managed to minimize their errors and keep pace with the offense of the Taft Squad. The Lady Blazers stumbled to a 10-16 deficit after a series of deadly attacks unloaded by the Lady Altas. Jade Gentapa tried to stop the bleeding for her team, but their floor defense could not dismiss the offense of the opposing team, 14-20. The Lady Altas were four points away from closing the set when the Lady Blazers staged a 4-0 run and trimmed the lead to three, 22-19. With starters Cloanne Modonedo and Pascual returning to the court for a loaded front line, the Taft squad utilized every opportunity to score, forging a 24-all deadlock until Pascual completed the comeback with a fierce block, 26-24.
Seeking to clinch a set, the Altas earned an early three-point lead from quick kills and blocks but their errors continued. Banking off errors that plagued UPHSD, Benilde was to create a commanding nine-point lead through the help of Mondonedo—who distributed Benilde's offense to every attacker in the court. The Lady Blazers continued their usual fashion and never looked back as Catarig closed the game with a soft attack, 25-16.
Gentapa and Zamantha Nolasco provided 13 points each while Gamit chipped in 10 for the Lady Blazers.
The Lady Blazers will face the Enderun Colleges (EC) Lady Titans at the same venue on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center. The game will be streamed live at the V-League website, Facebook and Youtube, and Solar Sports.
Box Scores:
DLS-CSB (3): Gentapa 13, Nolasco 13, Gamit 10, Pascual 8, Mondonedo 5, Apostol 4, Estoque 4, Catarig 1, Basarte 0, Borromeo 0, Estenzo 0, Dorog 0, Getigan 0, Ondangan 0
UPHSD (0): Dapol 9, Omipon 9, Bedana 4, Enrico 4, Ocado 4, Aldea 1, Cordero 1, Mariano 1, Andal 0, Ariola 0, Bedana 0, Donig 0, Lozano 0, Sapin 0, Uy 0,
