UAAP: NU streaking ahead of finals rematch vs La Salle

NU Lady Bulldogs.–UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–National University dismantled slumping University of the East, 25-13, 25-19, 25-16, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Bella Belen spearheaded the Lady Bulldogs in their fifth consecutive win with 11 points from 10 attacks and a block even as coach Norman Miguel maximized NU’s roster.

“Sa training palang, ang nakamindset talaga sakin, dapat yung depensa namin is maganda … ipakita ko sa team ko na kaya ng bawat isa samin na dumepensa nang maganda [at] consistent,” said Belen, who joked about matching her friend and University of Santo Tomas libero Bernadett Pepito’s defense.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round

NU has been on a tear since its opening loss to the Golden Tigresses.

“Syempre masaya kami dahil na-continue yung winning streak, and na-field in lahat ng mga players namin and nag-perform,” Miguel said after NU dealt the Lady Warriors their fifth straight loss in six games.

“‘Yung team naman namin is we’re not building a star player kasi talaga. Gusto namin lahat kami paangat, gusto namin walang naiiwan,” Belen added after also guarding the floor with 10 excellent digs and five excellent receptions.

The Lady Bulldogs wasted no time in taking control of the match, immediately creating a 15-4 lead in the first set behind Belen, Alyssa Solomon and Aisha Bello with UE’s errors making it a blowout.

READ: NU stays hot, beats FEU for fourth straight win in UAAP women’s volleyball

UE tried to get back in the game with a more consistent showing early in the following set. But the Lady Bulldogs, with the confidence they got from the first set, got back on track and regained the upper hand, 18-14.

Bello gave NU a six-point lead, 11-17, while Arah Panique and Myrtle Escanlar took turns in widening the gap to UE and push the Lady Bulldogs to the match point.

“Very careful kami kung pano umangat yung performance ng team namin na nasa tamang timing. So, we always check their physical conditioning,” Miguel said.

“Importante yung katawan eh. So adjust sa load ng skills training. Medyo careful ako. I always check on them kung gaano na yung level ng pagod,” he added.

“I think wala pa naman kami dun sa peak. Slowly starting pa rin kami sa pag-angat, hindi yung biglaan kasi mahaba po kasi yung season, mahirap na po if bigla kaming nag-peak, so, yun dinadahan dahan namin,” Belen added.

The Lady Warriors looked lost with go-to scorer Casiey Dongallo finishing with her lowest output of 11 points. It was only Dongallo’s second time scoring fewer 20 points after also tallying 15 points on 12 attacks and three blocks and 10 excellent digs in UE’s loss to La Salle.

Only four other players added single-digit points for UE, which had its head coach Jerry Yee temporarily suspended for the rest of the season.

NU had an overwhelming 44-21 attack points edge as well as six more aces over UE, which had not come out on top since turning back Ateneo in their four-set curtain-raiser.

The Lady Bulldogs will be facing a tough challenge next in their redemption campaign against reigning champion La Salle on March 16 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“This week, medyo nag-start na kami nung preparation for [La Salle] next week. Pinagsabay namin [sa preparations for UE] … may mga skills training kaming tinutukan na kanina nakita naman namin na na-apply naman,” Miguel said.

“Alam naman po naming hindi siya magiging madali and siguro ang gagawin nalang namin is papanoorin namin paano sila maglaro, pag-aaralan namin kung paano sila gumalaw and titignan namin yung sarili namin kung ano yung dapat namin gawin as a team na pwede naming gawin sa game namin sa Saturday,” Belen added.