PUSHED to the limit, National U delivered an emphatic response that lifted the Lady Bulldogs to another Shakey’s V-League crown and raised their stock as another major tournament loomed in the horizon.
With Jaja Santiago at her sparkling best and Jasmine Nabor providing a lift, National U kept its mastery of Ateneo with a marathon 19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 21-25, 15-4 win last night for the Shakeys V League Season 13 Collegiate Conference title at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Named Most Valuable Player earlier, Santiago exploded for 27 points while Nabor contributed 14 hits to claim Finals MVP as the Lady Bulldogs captured their third title in the league. NU also ruled the Season 10 1st Conference and last year’s collegiate title—all at the expense of the Lady Eagles.
The Lady Bulldogs looked like they lost all their momentum when they dropped the fourth set. But while the Lady Eagles wilted, the Lady Bulldogs took their game to another gear and finished off their rivals in an hour and 38 minutes.
The victory raised NU’s stock ahead of the UAAP Season 79 volleyball tournament, where La Salle and Ateneo have figured in the finals in the last five years.
The Lady Bulldogs also took the series opener, 25-21, 19-25, 23-25, 25-18, 18-16, last Monday.
But Ateneo, with Michelle Morente and Jhoanne Maraguinot holding the fort, got off to a quick start taking the first set. Santiago found her rhythm in the second set, towing the Lady Bulldogs to victory in the next two frames.
Emerging from the shadows of Alyssa Valdez, who did not play in the tournament as she has already used up all her playing years at Ateneo, the 6-foot-5 Santiago spearheaded the Lady Bulldogs’ charge to the crown.
Santiago received the MVP trophy just before Game 2 of the finals.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines recovered its bearings in the fourth set as it walloped Far Eastern U, 25-18, 25-21, 32-34, 25-21 to nail third place.