A closer than expected matchup only adds to the hype of the budding rivalry between the NU Lady Bulldogs and UST Golden Tigresses.
In a fitting conclusion to Round 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, it was the NU Lady Bulldogs who asserted their dominance in a highly-anticipated finals rematch against the undermanned, but feisty UST Golden Tigresses.
However, the result was closer than expected, with the Bulldogs overcoming a 2-1 deficit to carve out a tight 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 15-9 victory over the Season 86 silver medalists.
Alyssa Solomon was on a mission in the high-stakes affair, finishing with a game-high 24 points built on 21 kills and three rejections. Bella Belen flaunted her all-around excellence with 18 points, 17 digs, and 15 receptions, along with Vange Alinsug’s own 17-points, 10 digs, and seven receptions.
Erin Pangilinan added 12 markers and four digs, while former Best Middle Blocker Sheena Toring (4 points) and Alas Pilipinas youngster Arah Panique (5 points) provided the necessary spark off the Lady Bulldogs’ bench. Lams Lamina, meanwhile, tossed up an impressive 32 excellent sets in the two-and-a-half hour thriller.
Lefty opposite Reg Jurado paced the Tigresses with 16 points and 16 digs along with Angge Poyos 12 points and 10 digs, while Cassie Carballo stood her ground against Lamina with 27 excellent sets to her name. Detdet Pepito, meanwhile, remained exceptional in patrolling UST’s floor with 24 digs and 13 receptions.
NU now enters Round 2 with a pristine 7-0 record, while the Tigresses sit at third seed with a 5-2 record against the DLSU Lady Spikers.
While both teams are expected to run it back immediately this March 22, here are three of our takeaways from a chess match that marked Season 87’s halfway point.
NU may be stacked, but…
It’s true that NU remains unbeaten midway through UAAP Season 87, but it’s not like they are completely unbeateable either. Even before their finals rematch against UST, the Bulldogs were already put to the test by the FEU Lady Tamaraws, who also took a 2-1 advantage before falling in Set 5.
The Lady Bulldogs have also admitted their tendency to relax, which has resulted in close sets despite their straight-set wins against the Adamson Lady Falcons and UP Lady Maroons midway into Round 1.
“Hindi lang kami [dapat] magre-relax, kasi may sakit kami na nagre-relax kami pag padulo, or gusto namin na kami ‘yung naghahabol ng score. So dapat alisin namin ‘yun, simula pa lang unahan na namin siya,” Alinsug said during NU’s sweep against Adamson last March 12.
It was against UST where NU looked the most vulnerable for Season 87, with the Tigresses overwhelming the Lady Bulldogs in Sets 1 and 3 of their rematch.
While NU’s championship pedigree allowed them to remain undefeated, this major show of vulnerability also sets the stage for an intriguing Round 2, where teams will be more eager to dent a flawless record.
“Masaya kami kasi syempre, na-experience namin ‘yung ganung labanan and talagang hindi rin magpapatalo ‘yung UST, so happy ako na talagang naka-recover kami sa down 2-1. So hopefully ma-polish pa namin ‘yung mga lapses namin,” head coach Sherwin Meneses said.
UST and NU’s familiarity makes this a fun matchup
Since embracing their “Mini Miss UST” identity, this is now the Tigresses’ fifth-overall meeting with the Lady Bulldogs, which includes their elimination round meetings and best-of-three finals series in Season 86.
In the sets that UST did win on Sunday, it seemed like they were the perfect counter against the Lady Bulldogs’ well-oiled machine. More than Jurado and Poyos finding ways to score for UST, it was the Pepito-led floor defense that shut down NU’s many spike attempts throughout the thrilling five-setter.
But like a true chess match, the Lady Bulldogs found ways to adapt, relying on heavy services, and a series of combination plays that UST would struggle to counter against. Of course, there were also the long rallies that further highlighted each team’s preparedness against their respective tendencies.
“Pwede siya maging advantage and disadvantage [the familiarity], kasi matagal na namin silang nakalaban so medyo familiar na kami sa galaw ng isa’t isa. Pero every season po kasi nagi-improve ‘yung UST, and every game actually!” Belen said post-game.
“Kasi nakikita naman namin, lalo na kanina may nakita kaming in-game na ‘di namin nakita before sa mga previous games nila so dun kami nahirapan and hindi kami nakapag-adjust agad.”
UST can only get better from here
Ahead of UAAP Season 87, team captain Pepito requested for UST’s fans to temper their expectations due to losing Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula to offseason injuries. The Tigresses may enter as the reigning silver medalists, but she noted how it was still a rookie-laden team that needed to grow as the new season progressed.
Seven games later, UST now finds themselves well into the Final Four picture with their 5-2 record. After a loss to FEU in their season opener, the Tigresses went on a five-game tear, winning against the UE Lady Warriors, DLSU Lady Spikers, Adamson Lady Falcons, UP Lady Maroons, and Ateneo Blue Eagles prior to their valiant stand against NU.
Jurado has continued to embrace her bigger leadership and scoring load, while Poyos isn’t showing any signs of a sophomore slump early on. Last but not least is the continued excellence of Pepito and Carballo as a setter-libero tandem fueling the Tigresses’ success.
“Itong game na po talaga, ito yung nagbigay ng kumpyansa sa team namin na kaya pala talaga namin kahit na maraming key players ang nawala,” Pepito reflected.
But as promising as UST’s start is, Round 2 won’t be any easier, with their opponents also learning from their respective struggles to start the season. Given this, Pepito knows that the Tigress must double their efforts if they want to keep this momentum going until the Final Four.
“Kailangan na talaga naman yung pagtrabahuan kasi yung kalaban namin nagtatrabaho din, kailangan namin mas doble effort kasi ‘yung mga kalaban namin halos kumpleto eh. Kami, ang daming nawala samin then ang dami pang pina-polish,” she reflected.
“Pero ‘yung result ng game, nag-fifth set kami sa reigning champion, so ‘yun trabaho lang talaga tsaka ‘yung eagerness na manalo.”
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.