NU downs Ateneo, captures V-League title

The NU Lady Bulldogs had every reason to celebrate on Sunday after beating the Ateneo Lady Eagles on Sunday to win the championship in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at the Arena in San Juan. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

National University brought Ateneo, a team deemed unbeatable, down to its knees with a masterful win, 25-21, 26-24, 25-19, in the deciding Game 3 of the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference Sunday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Bulldogs completed their comeback from 1-0 down in the championship series with a help from Lady Eagles’ Bea de Leon, who committed a service error that triggered the NU celebration.

“This title is for them. I told them ‘get this championship, it’s for you,'” NU head coach Roger Gorayeb said. “Dedicate this win for you, for yourselves.”

NU moved at championship point, 24-17, after back-to-back miscues by Ateneo’s Jho Maraguinot and Alyssa Valdez.

The Lady Eagles got a couple more points courtesy of Justine Nabor and Amy Ahomiro before de Leon’s error sealed the Lady Bulldogs’ victory.

Gorayeb pointed out that his team’s unforced errors allowed Ateneo to get back into the match in the third set where the Lady Eagles erased the Lady Bulldogs’ 8-2 advantage for a 10-all count.

“We had too much service errors. Good thing we recovered and got the tempo back.”

NU did regroup, going on an 8-2 spurt for an 18-12 cushion. Myla Pablo’s capped her team’s run with successive off-the-block hits.

Pablo led all scorers with 15 points and was named Finals MVP while Dindin Santiago-Manabat had 11.

The Lady Bulldogs also drew 10 points each from Jaja Santiago and Jorelle Singh.

Alyssa Valdez scored a team-high 14 points but Ateneo had no answer for NU’s potent offense. The Lady Bulldogs netted 42 points off their attacks while limiting the Lady Eagles to only 27 points in that area.