NU Lady Bulldogs. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
National University booked the first semifinals seat in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference after stunning a surging Far Eastern University in five sets, 25-17, 24-16, 14-25, 25-18, 15-11, Wednesday at Philsports Arena.
FEU saw its five-game win streak snapped as the Lady Bulldogs forced the Lady Tamaraws to two consecutive receiving errors to take the 14-11 lead.
Then Jaja Santiago punctuated the ticket for the Lady Bulldogs with a through-the-block kill.
“Yung determinasyon, yung willingness nakita namin kania,” said NU assistant coach Edjet Mabbayad. “Nakita ko yung kapit at pursige kahit lumalamang kalaban, di sila bumibitaw, although nangyari nung previous sets naka-recover naman agad.”
NU now has a 2-0 record in the quarterfinals with its next game against University of the Philippines merely a formality to complete its schedule before the semifinals.
Santiago led NU with 19 points while Aiko Urdas and Audrey Paran added 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Toni Rose Basas led FEU with 21 points while veterans Remy Palma and Bernadeth Pons had 14 and 12 points, respectively.