Benilde first to title series after turning back Mapua
Mycah Go has been working with a bunch that doesn’t have the heroic cast of College of St. Benilde’s previous championship runs.
Now that they’re back in the Finals, the team captain of the Lady Blazers recognizes the need for a tremendous amount of effort to pull off a repeat act in the NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball tournament.
“I always share my experiences with my teammates as part of those championship teams,” Go said after a 20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-18 over Mapua in the semifinals on Sunday. “I know we have to double our efforts since we have a young core.’’
They progressed to the best-of-three titular clash as they gun for a fourth straight title.
Zamantha Nolasco delivered the lethal blows, unloading most of her 18 attacks that made the bulk of her 19 points in the fourth and deciding set as the twice-to-beat Lady Blazers refused to extend their Final Four encounter by immediately showing the fourth-seeded Lady Cardinals the door.
“We have a different core this season, it’s younger,” said Nolasco. “We just have to trust each other that we can do it.’’
Rookie Aya Densing also sparkled, unloading 13 points and 14 digs on top of two aces while Ash Lleses contributed 11 points, 13 receptions and a pair of aces for the Lady Blazers, who will meet either the Letran Lady Knights or the Arellano Lady Chiefs in the championship.
“We might have lost last year’s core that brought us the championship, but the program that produced these players is still there,” said coach Rogelio Getigan Jr. “We will rely mostly on viewing the games of our opponent and we will adjust accordingly.’’
The Lady Knights finished second after the 18-game elimination round and enjoy a twice-to-beat edge over the No. 3 Lady Chiefs at the start of their semifinal face-off at the Filoil Arena on Tuesday.
