National University closed in on the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball crown after dominating University of Santo Tomas in Game 1, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20, Saturday in front of a 20,955 yellow and blue-clad fans at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs, who gave up the throne to De La Salle last year after winning it in Season 84, will look to reclaim the title on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
If the Golden Tigresses force a do-or-die Game 3, it will be on May 18, still at the bayside Pasay venue.
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. – UST vs NU (Men Finals)
4 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women Finals)
“Masayang masaya kasi nauna na kami sa Game 1. Nag work yung game plan kahit papaano naapply namin so masayang masaya,” said head coach Norman Miguel.
NU had a double celebration as its men’s team is one win away from a first four-peat in 13 years with a 25-17, 26-24, 25-19 conquest of UST.
Ateneo was the last school that became double champions in 2015.
The Golden Tigresses took a big hit in the second set with the game tied at 11 when top gunner Angge Poyos went down with an injured right ankle on a block play, landing on teammate Em Banagua’s foot. She was not able to return.
From that point on, the Lady Bulldogs’ troika of Alyssa Solomon, Vange Alinsug, and Bella Belen pounded UST capped by Sheena Toring’s slide attack for the 2-0 set lead, 25-20.
Back-to-back errors from NU put some life to the Golden Tigresses in the third, inching within two, 19-21, but Toring and Alinsug powered the Lady Bulldogs in crunch time for the victory in one hour and 54 minutes.
“Siguro for Game 2 hindi kami dapat makampante, kailangan isipin namin syempre UST yan, palaban yung team na yan kailangan yung mindset namin is tapusin na namin sa Game 2. Kailangan hindi na namin paabutin ng do-or-die pa,” said Season 84 MVP Belen.
Camilla Lamina tossed 17 excellent sets for the Lady Bulldogs as they saw four players score at least 10 points led by Solomon’s 17 on 14 attacks and three blocks with eight digs.
Belen added 13 points and eight digs, Alinsug got 12 points and six receptions, and Toring had 10 points on 6-of-7 kills including three blocks and one ace.
NU tallied seven blocks against UST’s one.
On the other hand, Jonna Perdido carried the fight for UST with 17 points and nine excellent receptions while Regina Jurado logged 10 points.
