Three-peat bid not on Benilde Lady Blazers’ minds in upcoming NCAA Season 99 campaign

Published April 1, 2024 10:39pm

Updated April 1, 2024 10:39pm

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers are not putting too much pressure on themselves in their upcoming three-peat bid in the NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball tournament.

Graduating team captain Jade Gentapa said more than anything, they would just like to compete to the best of their ability and not think too far ahead.

“Hindi po namin iniisip na back-to-back champions kami kasi hindi naman lagi nasa taas, bilog din ang bola tsaka ‘yung mga teams super eager sila na talunin kami,” the 23-year-old Gentapa told GMA News Online.

“Sort of doon na naka-set ‘yung minds namin pero para sa akin po, ang pinaka-goal ko ay ‘yung ipakita kung ano pa ‘yung pwede kong maiambag sa team this year.”

[We’re not thinking about us being back-to-back champions because we’re not always going to be on top, the ball is round and teams are super eager to beat us… That’s sort of where our minds are set but for me, our goal is to show what else I can contribute to the team this year.]

Nonetheless, Gentapa said the team is nearing its top form with only a few days left before the season starts on April 7.

The Lady Blazers are coming off a busy offseason, highlighted by a fruitful run in the 2024 Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League where they proved their worth against several professional clubs.

The wards of head coach Jerry Yee finished fourth among five teams, reaching the semifinal round where they bowed against the Cignal HD Spikers. They then fell to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the battle for third place.

But Gentapa said this particular offseason league helped them assess which areas of their game need improvement as they head to Season 99.

“Umaabot kami sa five sets and ‘yung mga scores namin dikit lang din sa mga pro teams and okay naman siya for our experience. Lesson learned talaga siya kasi kaya naman namin, sadyang nawawalan lang kami ng endgame composure,” Gentapa added.

“Na-expose kami na in a way na college team kami pero nakaka-compete kami and napahirapan din namin kahit papaano ‘yung ibang teams.”

[We were able to reach five sets and the scores were close against the pro team and it was okay for our experience. Lesson learned because we can do it, but we just fell short of endgame composure… We were exposed in a way as a college team but we were able to compete and made it difficult for the other teams.]

Gentapa will get more than enough help from the rest of the Lady Blazers with the returning Mycah Go expected to add more depth alongside veteran opposite hitter Gayle Pascual.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News