Despite the absence of star Dindin Santiago-Manabat, the second seeded National University found the firepower to defuse Far Eastern University, 25-15, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, Saturday to zero in on the other finals berth in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference.
Jaja Santiago and Myla Pablo played true to form and combined for 37 points for the Lady Bulldogs, who could knock out the pesky Lady Tamaraws for good on Sunday in game two.
Skipper Jorelle Singh chipped in 11 points for NU, which recovered from a shaky third set to finish off FEU.
Behind guest player Jovelyn Gonzaga, Bernadeth Pons and Toni Rose Basas, the Lady Tamaraws pushed the Lady Bulldogs to the limit in the extended third set but couldn’t find the strong finish in the fourth.
Pons led FEU with 16 markers while Basas and Gonzaga added 12 and 11 hits, respectively.
Earlier, Ateneo outmatched University of Santo Tomas to put one foot into the finals.