The NU Lady Bulldogs score their title repeat at the expense of a familiar foe in the DLSU Lady Archers.
No what-ifs this time.
Behind one final show of excellence from seniors Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, the NU Lady Bulldogs scored their much-awaited title repeat by sweeping the DLSU Lady Spikers 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 in a clinical Game 2 victory to snag the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball championship on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Belen led the Bulldogs’ title-clinching assault with a near triple-double of 18 points, 11 digs, and eight service receptions, while Solomon’s heavy hits resulted in a 13-point outing for her collegiate volleyball swan song.
Vange Alinsug, who is expected to lead the Lady Bulldogs for Season 88 onwards, backstopped her graduating teammates with 10 points, six digs, and three receptions, while Shaira Jardio and Lams Lamina excelled once more in handling the non-scoring roles.
By conquering the Lady Spikers, National U now snags their fifth UAAP Women’s Volleyball title, and their third-overall within a span of four seasons.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa mga seniors kasi yung chemistry na nabuo namin within eight months, sobrang bilis kasi ‘yung leadership nila especially Bella talagang napakagaling niyang maghandle ng team,” head coach Sherwin Meneses, who also won his first-ever UAAP Women’s Volleyball title, said.
“Knowing Coach Ramil, ‘yung sistema niya talagang buong–buo na. Naglalaro pa lang ako, Coach Ramil na siya. Masaya ako na nakalaban namin siya at this time, nanalo naman.”
Unlike Game 1, it was a dominant showing for the Lady Bulldogs right off the first serve, immediately overwhelming the Lady Spikers with their strong hits and league-leading floor defense. Ultimately, this would be the prevailing theme, with the Taft-based spikers playing catchup throughout the lopsided affair.
It was a symbolic passing of the torch that sealed the Lady Bulldogs’ Season 87 championship, with Shaira Jardio digging a backrow spike from Angel Canino that led to a perfect setup by senior Lams Lamina for a game-winning crosscourt hit by Alinsug.
Alinsug and Jardio were also named co-Finals Most Valuable Players, further reinforcing their status as the Lady Bulldogs’ next set of leaders in the post-Belen and Solomon era in Jhocson.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.