NU’s Jaja Santiago scores off Laoag’s Jovelyn Prado and Joyce Sta Rita of Laoag in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
JAJA Santiago dominated like she used to and Jasmin Nabor also came out impressive as National University tripped Team Laoag, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference yesterday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Bulldogs often turned to Santiago who, several times, found open slots in the middle to help arrest the pesky Power Smashers’ comeback attempts.
Santiago, the 6-foot-5 Best Spiker in the last UAAP season, finished with a game-high 21 points built on 16 kills, four blocks and an ace.
But Nabor—adjusting quickly after getting converted from an open spiker to setter—surprisingly starred as well with 10 points and 31 excellent sets.
“We didn’t communicate well in the second set, we hesitated and had consecutive errors,” Nabor said of the Lady Bulldogs’ second-set slip where the Power Smashers leveled the match, 1-1, behind Mylene Paat and Jessica Galanza.
“But we talked about lessening our errors and communicating better. We were able to adjust.”
In men’s action, Instituto Estetico Manila downed Philippine Navy in three, tight sets, 25-22, 25-22, 27-25, at the start of Spikers’ Turf.
Greg Dolor tallied all of the IEM Volley Masters’ six blocks and fired 12 kills in an 18-point performance.
“He carried us in this match, we feed on his energy,” IEM coach Ernesto Balubar said of Dolor, a Far Eastern University standout.
Filipino-Japanese Risa Sato debuted with 10 points for the Lady Bulldogs, who are reeling from the graduation of reliables Myla Pablo and Ivy Perez.
But many stepped up for the Lady Bulldogs as Jorelle Singh and Aiko Urdas also came through with key hits in the final two sets.
“It’s a good start for us,” said NU coach Roger Gorayeb.