Benilde, Perpetual open title defense

MANILA, Philippines - St. Benilde launches its back-to-back title bid as it squares off with Perpetual Help on Monday at the start of the 92nd NCAA women’s volleyball competition at The San Juan Arena.

Defending men’s titlist Perpetual Help, for its part, opens its title-retention campaign as it clashes with St. Benilde at the start of the men’s tournament on Wednesday at the same venue.

The Macky Carino-coached Lady Blazers came out of nowhere to stun the heavily favored Grethcel Soltones and the San Sebastian Lady Stags in the finals last year to claim their very first championship.

Last season’s Finals MVP Jeanette Panaga and veteran Ranya Musa are back with hopes of helping the Taft-based school get another shot at glory.

St. Benilde, however, will have its hands full against a Perpetual Help side that has kept the core of its squad a season back and coming off a strong second place finish to eventual winner Santo Tomas in the University Games in Dumaguete City late last month.

The CSB-Perpetual Help duel is set at 2 p.m., which will be preceded by an opening ceremony highlighted by a St. Benilde’s dance group that has won a world hip-hop dance contest this year.

Perpetual Help, for its part, will be the team to watch out for this year as it will parade an almost intact lineup headed by the Taneo brothers Rey and Reylan, who were vital cogs in the Altas’ title run last year.