Alyssa Solomon leads the NU Lady Bulldogs to a Game 1 win over the UST Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals Game 1. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
National University moved within just a win of clinching the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball throne after dominating University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20, in Game 1 on Saturday at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
After having quiet performances in NU’s last two outings, Alyssa Solomon showed her top form again with 17 points from 14 attacks, three blocks and an ace to help the Lady Bulldogs pull ahead in the best-of-three Finals series.
“‘Yung naging performance namin kanina, very happy kasi nakita namin kung paano kami mag-work sa team talaga,” Solomon told the media.
HIGHLIGHTS: UAAP Season 86 volleyball Finals NU vs UST Game 1
“Hindi namin pinabayaan, though, may times na nagre-relax kami and nakakalimutan namin na leading pala kami, so parang nakakalimutan namin na tapusin na kasi pag nabigyan pa ng kumpiyansa, mababago pa laro. Very happy sa performance sa team pero lessen sana ‘yung errors. ‘Yun nalang siguro kailangan pa i-improve,” she said.
Solomon and Toring on playing instrumental for NU in Game 1. #UAAPSeason86 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/QxGy36e0v0
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) May 11, 2024
Bella Belen continued showing her splendid game and delivered 13 attack points, Vange Alinsug 12 points and Sheena Toring 10 points, three coming from defending the net.
“We’re very happy kasi na-apply po namin yung mga pinagtrainingan namin and yung mga game adjsutements namin para sa UST,” Belen said. “Siguro for Game 2, kailangan hindi kami makampante, kailangan isipin namin na syempre UST ‘yan, palaban yung team na ‘yan.”
UAAP SCHEDULE: Season 86 volleyball Finals UST vs NU
UST, a set down already, lost its most powerful weapon rookie Angge Poyos in the second frame with the game tied at 11. After attempting a block, Poyos landed her right foot badly on the foot of teammate Em Banagua.
Poyos was helped off the court and coach KungFu Reyes said his wards’ foot swelled up but would need to undergo tests to verify the gravity of her injury.
UST Tigresses’ rookie Angge Poyos suffers an injury in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball finals against the NU Lady Bulldogs. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Sophomore hitter Jonna Perdido somehow tried to fill in the gap left by Poyos with 17 points from 15 attacks, an ace and UST’s only block of the one-hour and 48-minute contest.
Regina Jurado was the other who tried to step up for the Tigresses with 10 points coming from nine attacks and an ace.
With the win within NU’s view, Belen sent a down the line hit to give the Lady Bulldogs a four-point lead, 19-15 in the third set. Ren Penafiel sneaked an off the block hit before Solomon committed a service error.
Belen landed a service at the net as Solomon’s cross-court attack sailed out that narrowed the margin to 21-19.
Toring unloaded a quick attack before stopping a kill from Pierre Abellana, 23-19, before Abellana nailed UST’s last point. Alinsug had enough and hammered an off the block attack in the middle to finally move NU closer to its goal.
“Kailangan yung mindset namin is tapusin na namin sa Game 2 … kailangan hindi na namin paabutin ng do-or-die pa, ‘wag na kami maghanap ng challenge. Hanggat kaya naming tapusin nga Game 2, tapusin namin,” said Belen after NU had to go through a rubber match in its semifinal encounter with Far Eastern before moving on to the Finals.