COLLEGE of Saint Benilde opens its quest for a second straight championship minus last season’s MVP Mycah Go as it plays San Sebastian today in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex.

Go will sit out the entire Season 98 due to an ACL injury she sustained in a tune-up match last month.

Still, the Lady Blazers remain formidable with last year’s Finals MVP Gayle Pascual leading the charge together with Jade Gentapa, Michelle Gamit, Cristy Ondangan, setter Cloanne Mondoñedo and libero Kim Estenso.

The Lady Stags hope to make a deep run this season behind last year’s top rookie Kat Santos, KJ Dionisio, Tina Marasigan, Amaka Tan, playmaker Vea Sison and libero Jewelle Bermillo.

The 23-time champions, however, won’t have last season’s Best Opposite Spiker Reyann Cañete in the roster this year.

The Benilde-San Sebastian match is set at 12 noon, to be followed by the Arellano University-Jose Rizal University clash at 2 p.m. Both games will be aired live on GTV.

Men’s action will return for the first time since 2020, with the Blazers and the Stags taking the floor at 9 a.m., and the Chiefs and the Bombers slugging it out at 4:30 p.m.

The Lady Chiefs, who saw their three-year reign came to an end last season, lost Carla Donato and Cess Bello to graduation, as Trina Abay, Pau de Guzman and Charmina Diño now carrying the offensive load.

Two-time Best Outside Hitter Dolly Verzosa and Kia Melgar have already completed their playing years, as the Lady Bombers, who achieved their best finish ever in school history last season, hope to continue their good standing behind new team captain Sydney Niegos, Riza Rose and May Ruiz.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado