Teamwork, bravery key in Lady Bulldogs’ title repeat

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

If bravery can only take you so much, Jaja Santiago and National University know that it’s the highest place in the podium.

On Wednesday at Philsports Arena, Santiago and the Lady Bulldogs showed Ateneo why they’re a pack not to be messed with as they defended their title in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference in a five-set thriller, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22, 21-25, 15-4.

Santiago said it all boiled down to the team’s fortitude in the final set.

“Lumamang nung fifth set. Yung kagustuhan nung team na manalo at tapang andun. Tapos tulung-tulong sa loob ng court,” said Santiago.

NU was actually caught in a pinch in the fourth set when it fell behind 19-14, but the Lady Bulldogs pushed back with a 7-2 run.

Ateneo, however, held on to the lead in the penultimate period before succumbing to NU in the fifth set.

With head coach Roger Gorayeb just coming back from his long vacation, it was assistant coach Edjet Mabbayad who took over the team until the closing moments.

“Sinabi lang sa amin ni coach Edjet na mag relax lang kami and wag masyadong tight ang kilos sa loob ng court,” said Santiago.