MANILA, Philippines — National University gave its new coach and rookie a debut to remember as it beat Ateneo in straight sets, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17, at the start of the UAAP Season 76 volleyball tournament Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dindin Santiago fired a game-high 18 points while her younger sister Jaja had eight hits as the two formed a towering combination for the Lady Bulldogs.
“They were able to use their height advantage,” said new NU coach Edjet Mabbayad, who took over from Francis Vicente, of the Santiago sisters. “We’re happy because [the players] were moving not as individuals but as a team.”
Apart from Dindin and Jaja Santiago’s presence on the floor, Mabbayad also lauded her setter Ivy Perez, who had 25 excellent sets.
“She’s maturing and learning with the experience she’s getting,” said the soft-spoken Mabbayad, a former Far Eastern University hitter not too long ago.
While the Lady Bulldogs began their season the way they wanted it, the Lady Eagles, who also paraded a new mentor in Thai tactician Anusorn Bundit, were reminded of the key players they lost to graduation.
Aside from the expected output from peppery spiker Alyssa Valdez, last season’s finalist Ateneo didn’t seem to have have enough firepower to stand toe-to-toe with NU as compared to last year’s team when they still had the likes of Fille Cainglet, Jem Ferrer and Dzi Gervacio.
Valdez tallied 16 points with two service aces while Amy Ahomiro had eight hits.