Defending champion National University sent erstwhile unbeaten Far Eastern University packing, 25-16, 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, in an exciting knockout duel to secure the last finals seat in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Reigning tournament Most Valuable Player Alyssa Solomon took over in the fourth set while grizzled veterans Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug provided support on offense to draw the Lady Bulldogs closer to completing a three-peat.
NU repelled the Lady Tamaraws’ fightback late in the fourth frame to set up a thrilling best-of-three championship series rematch against undefeated De La Salle University in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.
Game 1 of the finals, which pits the protagonists of the inaugural edition’s title showdown two years ago, is on November 22.
Solomon unloaded 11 of her game-high 17 markers in the fourth set including three of the Lady Bulldogs’ last four points.
“Gusto ko lang ibawi ang sarili ko and i-redeem ang sarili ko kasi parang slow start ako,” said Solomon, who only had six points in her first two frames of action.
Solomon had 13 kills and four kill blocks while Belen and Alinsug unloaded 15 points each.
Belen and Alinsug submitted identical offensive statistics of 13 attacks, one ace and one kill block each for NU, which put FEU’s seven-game romp to a screeching halt.
The Lady Bulldogs unleashed a telling 5-1 run in the fourth set to turn a two-point deficit into a 16-14 advantage. Solomon gave NU a 23-20 cushion with back-to-back kills.
Alinsug brought the Lady Bulldogs at match point, 24-21, off a powerful kill that penetrated FEU’s two-man block. Jean Asis saved a point for the Lady Tamaraws before Solomon smashed the finishing blow to end the two-hour, three-minute encounter.
Gerzel Petallo was the lone FEU player in double figures with 12 points coming off 10 spikes, one kill block and one ace while Asis had eight markers. Faida Bakanke and Clarisse Loresco finished with six points each.
The Lady Tamaraws shoot to salvage a bronze medal repeat against University of Santo Tomas in the one-game battle for third of the SSL’s centerpiece competition which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and SM Tickets as technical partners.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University overwhelmed University of the East, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22, in the first phase of the classification round.
The Blue Eagles tackle NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde in the battle for fifth on November 16.
Geezel Tsunashima and Lyan De Guzman led Ateneo with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lady Warriors, paced by Casiey Dongallo’s 10 points, will face University of the Philippines in the battle for seventh.
SSL games are aired live and on-demand via Puso Pilipinas, SMART Livestream, Solar Sports Channel 70 on Sky Cable and Channel 59 on Cable Link.
Games on November 16 (Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. –- UE vs UP (classification 7th to 8th)
6 p.m. — Ateneo vs CSB (classification 5th to 6th)
