Steady NU outlasts FEU in Super League finals opener

Bella Belen, middle, and the NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate during Game 1 of the Shakey’s Super League Finals against the FEU Lady Tamaraws.–SSL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A composed National University outlasted Far Eastern University, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13, in a pressure-packed Game 1 of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals on Monday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

Veterans Bella Belen and Erin Pangilinan rallied the Lady Bulldogs back from two points down early in the fifth set before Alexa Mata and Myrtle Escanlar put on the finishing touches to push NU closer to annexing another crown after ruling the first two editions of the collegiate preseason championship.

Belen exploded for 26 points anchored by 24 kills and two kill blocks for NU, which can claim the title in Game 2 on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

READ: Unbeaten teams NU, FEU arrange Super League title clash

Arah Panique added 15 points, Pagilinan chipped in 14 markers while Escanlar added 13 points including the game-winning offspeed hit for the reigning UAAP champion.

“I’m very happy na despite wala si Ate Sheena (Toring, Ate Aly (Solomon) and Vange and other teammates ko na di nakapaglaro, may mga rookies and mga teammates ko na talagang nag-step up na tinulungan yung team para manalo today,” Belen said.  

FEU carried the momentum of their dominating fourth set to take a 7-5 lead in the fifth frame but Belen and Pangilnan sparked a 4-0 counterattack to push NU in front.

The Lady Tamaraws knotted the count at 12 before Mata scored two straight points as the Lady Bulldogs reached match point. FEU saved a match point when Belen sent her pipe attack straight to the net but Escanlar cleaned it up with a soft touch in the next play.  

Jean Asis had 23 points to pace the Lady Tamaraws. Chenie Tagaod had 19 points, while Gerzel Petallo and Jazzlyn Ellarina posted 11 and 10 points, respectively, for FEU.

READ: UAAP finalists NU, UST off to contrasting starts in Super League

Meanwhile, College of Saint Benilde fought back from a set down to frustrate Letran, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-17, and claim Game 1 of their best-of-three battle for bronze series.

The Lady Blazers shook off a rusty start before finding their groove to reassert their mastery over the same rival they defeated in the group stage.

CSB tries to close out the series with another win over the NCAA Season 99 losing finalist on Tuesday.

Opposite spiker Clydel Catarig scattered 22 points on an efficient 22-of-52 spiking clip to lead the Lady Blazers, who took advantage of the Lady Knights’ 27 errors to bounce back from a painful straight-sets loss to Far Eastern University in the knockout semifinal on Sunday.

Wewe Estoque added 15 points off nine kills, three kill blocks, and three aces while Rhea Densing added 12 markers with 11 coming for spikes for CSB.

Smelling blood after a dominant third frame, CSB raced to an early lead in the fourth frame that ballooned to 11 after Jessa Dorog pounded a kill for match point, 24-13.             

Back-to-back CSB errors followed by consecutive hits by Gia Maquilang kept Letran in the game before Dorog halted the Lady Knights’ run with a finishing crosscourt hit.

Maquilang finished with 19 points to lead the Lady Knights. Judiel Nitura had 12 markers while Lea Tapang scored eight in a losing effort for Letran.