MANILA – The College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers swept the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags, 25-19, 25-18, 25-20, on Friday (18 Oct 2024) to clinch the final berth in the second round of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship, held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
CSB’s opposite hitter Clydel Catarig stepped up in the third set, contributing six crucial points, while wing spiker Wielyn Estoque added five, successfully shutting down the Lady Stags’ bid to extend the match.
Estoque led the way for the three-time NCAA champions, tallying 11 attacks, a block, and an ace. The Lady Blazers wrapped up the first round with a 2-1 record in Pool D.
Catarig also made a significant impact, finishing with nine points, while teammates Cristy Ondangan and Rhea Mae Densing chipped in with seven and six points, respectively.
“That’s exactly what I expect from them,” said CSB head coach Jerry Yee. “We focus on teaching them composure, and that’s part of their growth. Having competed in SSL and other leagues for a while now, I see them maturing, improving, and listening more.”
On the opposing side, San Sebastian’s opposite hitter Christina Marasigan led her team with nine points. Wing spiker Katherine Santos and middle blocker Juna May Gonzales contributed seven and six points, respectively, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent their team from going winless in the first round.
The Lady Blazers will move on to face the University of the East in Pool E on Sunday as the second round-robin phase kicks off. Meanwhile, National University will go head-to-head with De La Salle University in the other Pool E matchup.
Over in Pool F, the University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, and the University of the Philippines will continue their campaigns.
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