NU redeems itself, gets even with Ateneo in Dindin’s return

Photo from Shakey’s V-League

Dindin Santiago-Manabat was more than just a physical threat to any rival.

With the statuesque middle blocker back into the fold, National University regained its confidence and pushed Ateneo to a decider in their Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference championship showdown with a 25-22, 25-17, 25-17 victory Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Manabat, reunited with the Lady Bulldogs after skipping Game 1 due to national team duties, came up with 12 points and five blocks.

It was her intimidating presence along with sister Jaja Santiago at the net, however, that gave them the leverage.

An imposing figure in the middle, the 6-foot-4 Santiago contributed 13 points, including eight hits, and had four service aces that went seamlessly well with Myla Pablo’s 12 markers.

Setter Rubie De Leon was also in the groove, chipping in five service aces and accounted for 28 excellent sets.

“We were so pumped up because we wanted to get even,” said NU coach Roger Gorayeb. “In Game 1, we played worse than a team that didn’t practice at all.”

Game 3 of the race-to-two affair is set next Sunday.

Alyssa Valdez, the conference Most Valuable Player, was far from her usual lethal self, smashing the Lady Bulldogs only eight times, a far cry from her 20-hit performance in previous games.

Even Kim Gequillana, Ateneo’s Game 1 hero, failed to concoct something that could turn the tables around together as well as Bea De Leon and setter Gizelle Tan.

“We started out strong and had few errors this time,” said Gorayeb, who brought Ateneo to the championship when he coached the Lady Eagles two years ago but lost to NU. “I’m proud for bringing these two teams to the championship.”

Down by eight, the Lady Eagles seemed headed for success in the opening set after Valdez’s service ace knotted the count at 19. But consecutive hits by Santiago, Pablo and Manabat, who celebrated her 22nd birthday Saturday, got NU back on track.

Miscues pulled down the Lady Eagles in the second frame before Manabat scored a pair of hits and a block that triggered an unstoppable run for the Lady Bulldogs in the deciding set.