COLLEGE of Saint Benilde capped one of the most dominant performances in the NCAA women’s volleyball history with a 26-24, 25-12, 25-9 rout of Arellano University yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

The Lady Blazers completed a 11-0 campaign, only losing one set the entire season to capture their second league championship.

Unlike its improbable 2016 title run, CSB was simply untouchable, becoming the first team to complete a perfect season since University of Perpetual Help System Dalta went 14-0 in 2012.

The six-year championship wait ended all the heartbreaks the Lady Blazers that went through along the way.

In coach Jerry Yee’s first season with CSB in 2019, the Lady Blazers lost to the Lady Altas in the Final Four despite having a twice-to-beat advantage for being the No. 1 team in the eliminations
CSB was poised to sweep the elims the following season, going 7-0 before pandemic scuttled its bid to make a triumphant return on top.

The two-year wait was worth it for the Lady Blazers.

“Tanggap naman natin yung mga ganoon,” said Yee, a multi-titled high school coach who finally won one in the collegiate level. “Mabuti naman, natapos at safe tayong lahat. Masaya. Ganoon talaga.”

Gayle Pascual followed up her 17-point outing in the opener with 14 points, including three blocks and one service ace to capture the Finals MVP honors.

Jade Gentapa contributed 11 points and 10 digs while Cristy Ondangan also had three blocks for a 10-point outing for the Lady Blazers.

Season MVP Mycah Go had eight points, including the championship-clinching service ace, to go with 15 digs and four receptions while Michelle Gamit added seven points, including three blocks for CSB.

Cloanne Mondoñedo, who provided the Lady Blazers stability all-season long, tossed in 15 excellent sets to go with three points.

“Tiwala ako sa girls. Masipag ang mga girls. Nakita ko yung mga abilities ng girls, kasama ko na matagal na,” said Yee.

Coming from different highly-regarded high school programs – Pascual from University of Santo Tomas and a bevy of Hope Christian High School talents led by Go and Mondoñedo – is something special for this CSB batch of champions.

“Nag-click agad kami since batchmates naman kami. It meant to be,” said Pascual.

With an intact roster in Season 98, the Lady Blazers are looking good for another run at championship.

“Nagsisimula pa lang po kami,” said Go.

The loss ended the Lady Chiefs’ reign that started in 2017 – where the Legarda-based squad won three titles during that run.

Pau de Guzman led Arellano with 10 points, while Charmina Diño added six kills, 10 receptions and nine digs.

In their final game for the Lady Chiefs, Carla Donato had six points while Cess Bello, bothered by swelling knees all-season long, scored one point.

“Nakita ko na ibinigay nila ang best,” said Arellano coach Obet Javier. “Happy pa rin ako kahit short lang ang preparation. Proud ako sa nakuha ng team ko ngayong season.”

Earlier, Kat Santos of San Sebastian took home the Rookie of the Year plum in the awards ceremony prior to Game 2.

Go and Dolly Verzosa of Jose Rizal University were the 1st and 2nd Best Outside Spiker awardees, respectively, while San Sebastian’s Reyann Cañete was named the Best Opposite Spiker.

The 1st and 2nd Best Middle Blocker honors went to Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Zonxi Dahab and Mapua’s Nicole Ong.

LPU’s Venice Puzon claimed the Best Setter award while Best Libero honors went to Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Alex Salvaloza.