Benilde, Perpetual open title defense bids in NCAA volleyball

Published April 6, 2024 11:09pm

Updated April 6, 2024 11:09pm

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers and the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas will open their respective title defense bids in the opening day of the NCAA Season 99 volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Filoil-EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Benilde women’s team, with the returning Mycah Go, will go against Emilio Aguinaldo College at around noon.

Despite being back-to-back champions, the Taft-based crew is not resting on their laurels. 

“Ang gusto lang po namin ay magtrabaho, ‘yun lang din ‘yung sinasabi ni coach. Hindi na po muna namin iniisip ‘yung championship or ‘yung three-peat,” said Benilde team captain Jade Gentapa.

“Yes gusto namin maabot po ‘yon pero mas mahalaga if mapanalo muna namin ‘yung bawat game.”

(We just want to work, that’s what coach told us. We do not want to think about the championship yet or the three-peat. Yes, we want to reach that but what’s more important is for us to win first each game.)

EAC, meanwhile, will rely on veterans Krizzia Reyes, Cath Almazan, and Jen Omapas as they eye a better performance this season.

Over in the men’s side, the Perpetual Altas will open their bid for a four-peat against Jose Rizal University as they cap the opening day.

Leading the way for the Las Piñas crew is the graduating Louie Ramirez.

“Ngayon medyo may pressure na kasi last playing year ko na, gusto kong mag-champion. Okay lang naman kasi solid kami ngayon,” Ramirez told GMA News Online.

(Somehow there’s pressure because it’s my last playing year, I want to be a champion. It’s okay, we’re pretty solid.)

JRU, on the other hand, hopes to improve this season after getting four wins and five losses in Season 98.

The Benilde-EAC men’s game will commence the first day of the volleyball tournament at 7:30 a.m., while the match between the JRU and Perpetual women’s teams will happen at around 2 p.m.

Viewers can catch the NCAA Season 99 live games on GTV every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 2:30 p.m., Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and Sundays at 12:00 nn. There will also be a delayed telecast every Monday and Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

Catch the livestream of the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament on the social media accounts of NCAA Philippines and GMA Sports.. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News