As the College of St. Benilde celebrated its historic three-peat in NCAA women’s volleyball, extending their unbeaten streak to an astounding 40 games, it also marked the end of an era for the Lady Blazers.
Key players who were instrumental in building this dynasty—middle blocker Mich Gamit, outside hitter Jade Gentapa, opposite spiker Gayle Pascual, and setter Cloanne Mondonedo—have all left the Taft-based squad to pursue professional careers with Zus Coffee in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
With the departure of these cornerstone players, the Lady Blazers are entering a period of transition.
Wielyn Estoque is now stepping into a larger leadership role as she aims to guide a new generation of Lady Blazers in their quest to defend both their NCAA title and make a strong showing in the V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge.
“Ginagawa ko lang kung ano yung kaya kong gawin as an ate nila. Ginagawa ko kung ano yung skills na meron ako and ginuguide ko sila sa loob at labas ng court,” Estoque shared following the Lady Blazers’ straight-set victory over Letran in the V-League last Sunday night.
Estoque understands that while building on-court chemistry is essential, her role as an ‘ate’—an older sister figure—is just as important in fostering the development of Benilde’s new core. This group includes 10 fresh faces, none of whom saw action in the NCAA last season.
The new-look Lady Blazers are now led by Estoque, along with key holdovers like Zamantha Nolasco and Mycah Go. They are joined by promising newcomers such as Rhea Densing and Mary Borromeo, who are eager to contribute to the team’s success.
“Lagi ko lang sila sinasabihan na kung ano yung kaya nilang gawin, i-bigay nila para sa team, and lagi nila i-up yung sarili nila dahil nga rookies sila, so sinasabi namin sakanila na lagi kami nandiyan para i-up din sila and motivate,” said Estoque, a two-time NCAA champion.
Estoque sees the seven-team pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision as the ideal platform for the young Lady Blazers to gain confidence and refine their skills ahead of the NCAA season. The tournament offers a valuable opportunity for the team to assess their progress and identify areas for improvement.
After a rocky start to the V-League, where they dropped their first two matches, the Lady Blazers found their footing with back-to-back sweeps of the University of the Philippines and Letran, bringing their record to 2-2.
“Dito namin makikita kung ano pa kailangan namin i-improve as a team and dito kami kukuha ng confidence. At pagdating ng NCAA, siguro as much as possible, makakalaro kami ng maayos at maiimprove namin yung errors namin,” Estoque added.
As the Lady Blazers rebuild under the guidance of Estoque, the team remains focused on their ultimate goal: securing a four-peat in NCAA women’s volleyball.
