The reigning champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers will kick off their title defense bid against a rejuvenated San Sebastian College-Recoletos squad as the NCAA Season 98 women's volleyball tournament unfurls on Saturday.
Benilde and San Sebastian will slug it out on the much-awaited opening day at 12 p.m. which will be followed by the clash between other Final Four contenders Arellano University and Jose Rizal University. In the men's division, Benilde and San Sebastian will likewise tangle at 9 a.m. while Arellano and JRU will cap off the quadruple-header.
All games will be held at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Benilde is expected to be the team to beat still despite missing the services of Season 97 MVP and team captain Mycah Go, who will be sidelined this season due to an injury she sustained during the off-season.
Powering the Jerry Yee-mentored team is team captain and setter Cloanne Mondoñedo alongside other veterans in Gayle Pascual, Jade Gentapa, Michelle Gamit, and Cristy Ondangan as they look to make it two championships in a row.
They will look to build on the momentum from last season, when the Taft crew breezily swept their way to the title and the dethronement of then three-time champion Arellano Lady Chiefs.
But a strong opponent will immediately pose a threat to that two-peat bid for Benilde as the Lady Stags are expected to go all out, especially after a Final Four appearance last year.
San Sebastian, with veteran tactician Roger Gorayeb still at the helm, is bannered by an intact core led by skipper Vea Sison, Amaka Tan, Jewelle Bermillio, Tina Marasigan, KJ Dionisio, and reigning top rookie Kath Santos.
Meanwhile, Arellano is expected to go all out right from the get-go in its bid to reclaim the crown.
The Lady Chiefs bade farewell to veterans Princess Bello and Carla Donato and will now lean on holdovers in Trina Abay, Kristine Adante, Charmina Diño, Donnalyn Paralejas, and Nicole Sasuman.
Arellano fell to Benilde in last year's finals showdown, but expect the wards of head coach Obet Javier to come out all prepared.
They will first face the Lady Bombers, who finished fourth last season behind Dolly Verzosa. But without the top spiker, JRU will bank on Syd Niegos, Riza Rose, Mary Ruiz, Marianne Alona, and Lyka Egera.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
