De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will miss the services of team captain and reigning MVP Mycah Go due to an injury, but the Lady Blazers remain the heavy favorites in the upcoming NCAA Season 98 women's volleyball tournament.
After all, the Taft crew will still have a promising lineup bannered by new skipper and setter in Cloanne Mondoñedo, Gayle Pascual, Jade Gentapa, and the middle blocker duo of Cristy Ondangan and Michelle Gamit.
But Pascual stressed it's back to square one for the team, highlighting the fact that all teams have improved since Season 97 last year.
"Hindi namin iniisip na champion kami, iniisip namin na back to zero ulit kami kasi magsa-start na ng bagong season. 'Yung season last year ay tapos na 'yun," Pascual told GMA Integrated News.
"'Yung season this year ay panibago na so lahat ng teams magsisimula ulit sa zero so pare-parehas lang naman kami."
("We aren't approaching it like we're the champions, in our heads it's back to zero because we are starting a new season. The season last year, that's already over... The season this year is a new one so all of the teams are starting from zero and everyone's the same.")
Benilde swept all its games last season en route to the title conquest and the dethroning of then-three-time defending champion Arellano University in the finals. But the third year high-flyer said they have to work doubly hard, especially with the targets on their back.
"Kung makukuha namin 'yung championship, need namin paghirapan 'yun. 'Yung special preparations, for us, wala naman," she added.
"Magsisimula kami sa zero then paghihirapan namin bawat game then sana palarin na makarating ulit doon."
("If we are to win the championship, we'll need to work for it. We didn't have special preparation, but we're starting from zero then we'll work for each game and hopefully we can be fortunate enough to get there again.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
