NU grounds Ateneo

National University may have found the turning point it was looking for all season.

Banking on MVP candidate Jaja Santiago, NU ended Ateneo’s seemingly unstoppable run with a thrilling 17-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13 victory Wednesday night in the UAAP women’s volleyball at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

“At this point every win is very important for us because we want to make it to the Final Four,” said a delighted NU coach Roger Gorayeb. “So this is a big win for us.”

It also helped that the Lady Bulldogs fashioned out the win over the league’s hottest team, which had previously won eight straight.

“This is very good for our morale. We are trying to accumulate wins so we end up either third or fourth,” said Gorayeb.

Santiago drilled in 25 points for the Lady Bulldogs, who swept the Lady Eagles this season.

Gorayeb, who ranted against his liberos in the previous match, continued to bench his floor defenders and had only fielded Gayle Valdez late in the fourth and the whole of the fifth.

“For me they (liberos) are suspended. They need to step up and prove themselves, otherwise, I will continue not to use them,” added Gorayeb, who added that they practiced without liberos.

Ateneo assistant coach Sherwin Meneses said the long winning run may have tolled heavily on the Lady Eagles.

He added that their players are “stressed because of the exams and the games.”

Earlier, University of the Philippines tripped winless Adamson, 25-15, 25-16, 25-20, to stay in contention for a Final Four slot.

Isa Molde led the Lady Maroons with 15 points, including six aces that underscored Adamson’s poor reception.