COLLEGE of St. Benilde defeated Arellano University, 25-21, 25-22, 25-20, in the classification round to end its run in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on a bright note at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association champions asserted their mastery over their archrival to finish the tournament organized by Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES) with two wins in four outings.

NCAA Most Valuable Player Mycah Go lifted the Lady Blazers on offense with 14 points. Cristy Ondangan had markers while Clydel Catarig scored all her 10 points off kills for the Taft-based squad.

“It was a total team effort. We just did our role inside the court,” Catarig said.

CSB uncorked five straight points capped by a service ace from Go to turn a 17-18 deficit in the tight third set into a 22-18 advantage.

The Lady Chiefs tried to fight back but a couple of miscues in the final stretch allowed the Lady Blazers to complete the emphatic sweep in the rematch of the NCAA Season 97 Finals.
Laika Tudlasan finished with 11 points including 10 off kills for Arellano.

Letran swept Jose Rizal University, 25-19, 25-18, 25-26, behind Daisy Melendres’ 11 points off seven hits, three kill blocks and an ace.

The Lady Knights closed their campaign with one win in four games while the Lady Bombers dropped all their four matches in the tournament.

San Sebastian College, on the other hand, crushed Mapua University, 25-21, 25-17, 25-19, to list two wins in five outings in the competition.

Kristine Dionisio and Kamille Tan had 19 and 15 points, respectively, for the Lady Stags, who gave the Lady Cardinals their fourth loss in five games.

The classification round match between Lyceum of the Philippines University and University of the East was canceled due to health and safety protocols.

Meanwhile, the second round will begin on Saturday.

University of Perpetual Help will take on UAAP champion National University at 10 a.m. followed by the 12:30 p.m. faceoff between University of Sto. Tomas and Fae Eastern University.

Adamson University and De La Salle University clash at 4 p.m. while University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University battle at 6:30 p.m.

In the second round, teams will play another round robin against the squads they have not faced in the first round to determine their rankings in the knockout quarterfinals.