NU nips Ateneo for back-to-back V-League crown

NU Lady Bulldogs, back-to-back V-League champions. Photo by Bong Lozada

National University scored another title as it dropped Ateneo in five sets, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 21-25, 15-4, to complete a sweep of the the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference finals Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Jasmine Nabor scored the defending champions’ final two points in the deciding set as the Lady Bulldogs ultimately asserted their dominance over the Lady Eagles in the final frame.

Nabor went on to take home the Finals MVP honors for NU, which bagged its third championship in 13 seasons of the volleyball tournament.

NU assistant coach Edjet Mabbayad was ecstatic the Lady Bulldogs have shown signs of improvement from their lackluster UAAP performance en route to another title.

“Nakikita namin improvement nung mga batang yun and yung goals ng coaches na makitang mag improve mga bata andun na,” said Mabbaya, who presided despite head coach Roger Gorayeb sitting in the sidelines. “Yung mga ginagawa nila, yun yung mga gusto naming mangyari.”

Jaja Santiago, who earlier was awarded the MVP and Best Blocker, was magnificent for NU as she finished with 27 points while Jorelle Singh and Nabor added 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Bea De Leon led the Lady Eagles with 14 points while Jhoana Maraguinot and Michelle Morente added 13 points apiece.

NU’s defense was near impenetrable in the face of Ateneo with the Lady Bulldogs scoring on 14 of their blocks while also unleashing 58 scoring spikes.