After an exciting set of Final Four games, NU and DLSU renew their rivalry by overcoming formidable foes in FEU and UST.
It will be Round 3 between the NU Lady Bulldogs and DLSU Lady Spikers after all following the conclusion of an exciting UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Final Four weekend at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
National U became the first team to clinch a finals ticket, overcoming a determined FEU Lady Tamaraws side in a dramatic 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15 reverse sweep in a rematch of their Season 86 Final Four meeting.
DLSU, meanwhile, rewrote their story against the UST Golden Tigresses in a 25-22, 11-25, 25-21, 25-21 decision that set up their third meeting in four seasons against the Lady Bulldogs.
With the Season 87 Final Four all said and done, here are some of our takeaways from an eventful game day at the Araneta Coliseum.
NU’s championship poise spells the difference
For a good while, it seemed like NU was headed to another rubber match with FEU, as the Lady Tams quickly jumped to a 2-0 set advantage in Saturday’s matchup. One more set could have booked the winner-take-all match this Wednesday for FEU, only for the Lady Bulldogs to start their comeback bid in an extended Set 3 affair.
National U followed up their Set 3 escape with a dominant fourth frame, going on a huge 18-7 run in order to force a fifth and deciding set.
“Lagi lang naman kasi namin sinasabi na hindi matatapos ‘yung game kung mananalo ng isang set or dalawang set. So hanggang di pa tapos ‘yung game, may chance pa kaming lumaban, and ‘yun pa rin ‘yung pinakita namin,” NU captain Bella Belen reflected moments after the Lady Bulldogs’ victory.
Set 5 remained far from a cakewalk for National U, with FEU overcoming a 2-5 disadvantage to level with the Lady Bulldogs, 10-all. From here, it was another back-and-forth between the two squads, with a late Lovely Lopez hit forcing another extender at 14-all.
It was an off-the-block hit from Vange Alinsug that sent National U to its final match point, before Belen fired a crosscourt hit that sealed the comeback victory for the defending champs.
Simply put, Saturday’s victory was a perfect showing of the Lady Bulldogs’ championship poise, where they successfully dug deep to turn the tables on FEU despite falling to a 0-2 deficit early on.
“Talagang tinrabaho namin ‘yung third hanggang fifth set kasi ‘yun nga mahirap eh, nakadalawang set na ‘yung FEU. Pero kasi malaki ‘yung tiwala ko sa teammates ko na kaya naming ipanalo ‘yung game kahit anumang score, or set man.”
DLSU is peaking at the right time
UAAP Season 87 has been far from easy for the Lady Spikers, with their younger core going through a series of growing pains throughout the elimination rounds. Sure, they always hovered between the second and third spot, but it was also evident that this core was yet to fully adjust into the UAAP’s high-pressure environment.
However, since their playoff against UST last April 30, it’s safe to say that the Lady Spikers have come closer to reaching their immense ceiling.
In rewriting history against the Golden Tigresses, the Lady Spikers have showcased much-improved floor defense, along with their signature net defense coming alive late into the season. There was that whopping 20-block outing during the playoff for a twice-to-beat incentive, which was followed by another solid 11 rejections in the Final Four itself against the España-based side.
Even setters Mikole Reyes and Jules Tolentino have proven their mettle when called upon by head coach Ramil de Jesus.
Captain Angel Canino believes that heart and grit has been crucial to the Lady Spikers’ suddenly lethal form.
“Biggest change din talaga is ipakita ‘yung puso, ipakita ‘yung kung anong kaya din talaga namin, na kahit tinatawag kaming mga ‘bata’ lang. At the same time din kasi, we have the skills eh, and ever since bago pa magstart ang UAAP, may skills na kami. Pero ngayon din talaga, naggrow kami as a team, and nakikita ko na gusto din talaga ng team na pusuan kada laban,” she told The GAME in an follow-up conversation.
Stand proud, UST and FEU
They may be signing off for this season, but there is a lot to be proud of for FEU and UST, who stood tall in the face of numerous challenges throughout their respective campaigns.
Despite dealing with inconsistency, the Lady Tamaraws still finished with a solid 9-5 record in eliminations, which includes back-to-back wins over the Tigresses, and an impressive upset over the Lady Spikers ahead of the Final Four. FEU is also one of the few teams that pushed defending champs NU to their limit, with two of their three Season 87 meetings needing the full five sets to be decided.
“NU is a strong team, champion team, and exceptional lahat ng players nila. But still, andon kami, and sa akin, ang ganda nung programa na binuild namin within a span of two years. Sinabi ko nga dun sa kanila na to be proud of our achievements, from eighth place in [Season 84], to fifth in [Season 85] then dalawang Final Four appearance,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak.
“So malaking factor ‘yun sa program. Siguro hindi pa ngayon, pero next year, kayang kaya ‘yan next year!”
UST, meanwhile, managed to bag a podium finish amid a battle with the injury bug. Despite playing without wing spikers Xyza Gula and Jonna Perdido, the Tigresses saw the emergence of Reg Jurado into a more assertive threat, while Season 86 Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos remains as explosive as ever. There was also the late resurgence of Em Banagua, while a late personnel reshuffling saw Marga Altea return to her natural middle blocker position.
Nobody expected the Tigresses to get this far into the season, yet they did. What more if they actually played through Season 87 at full health?
“Itong season na ito, ang daming challenges na nangyari sa team. Pero nagpapasalamat kami na naitawid namin, and nasa podium finish kami. That’s something na pwede namin ipagmalaki kahit papaano,” longtime UST tactician Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said in his exit interview. “So hanggang dito muna! Balik kami next year, and hopefully mai-overachieve namin kung anong mayroon kami ngayon.”
“Pero tinry namin talaga with our very best, pero nagkulang, and ‘yun ang pupunuan namin sa mga susunod na araw at next season.”
Up next for both teams will be an interesting offseason period, with their key seniors still undecided on whether or not they will play out their fifth and final year for Season 88. For FEU, there is the batch of Tin Ubaldo, Chenie Tagaod, and Jean Asis, while UST has their own graduating trio in captain Detdet Pepito, Pia Abbu, and Jonna Perdido.
All have been crucial building blocks in UST and FEU’s resurgence in the post-pandemic era, and will be leaving huge gaps to be filled once they choose to move on from their UAAP careers.
Still, regardless of their decision, both Sampaloc-based squads will have their set of key cogs to build around. For the Lady Tams, expected to remain in Morayta will be outside hitter Gerz Petallo, opposite Faida Bakanke, middle blocker Jaz Ellarina, and incoming sophomores in Lovely Lopez and Clarisse Loresco.
Over in España, there is still the one-two punch of Angge Poyos and a more assertive Reg Jurado, setter Cassie Carballo, and a prized middle blocking duo in Em Banagua and Marga Altea, to go along with any talents that will be elevated from their grassroots programs.