NU Lady Bulldogs in action during the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship. –SSL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — National University and University of Santo Tomas, last year’s finalists, barely broke a sweat after dominating separate UAAP rivals to advance to the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship semifinals on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon powered ‘three-peat’ seeking NU in its 25-12, 25-22, 25-17 sweep of the University of the Philippines in their quarterfinal duel.
Belen fired 12 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs, while Solomon delivered 10 points to renew their rivalry with the unbeaten Far Eastern University in the semifinals.
READ: Shakey’s Super League: FEU, La Salle book semis berths
“We don’t want to waste all our hard work in training because why work so hard if we’re not going to apply it in the game?” said former league MVP Solomon.
NU and FEU clashed for the championship of the SSL National Invitationals last Summer and had an intense Final Four series in the UAAP Season 86.
UST Golden Tigresses’ Angge Poyos during during the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship. –SSL PHOTO
Middle blockers Cham Maaya and Erin Pangilinan were also instrumental with seven and six points, respectively.
Kassandra Doering was the lone double-digit scorer for UP with 10 points. The Fighting Maroons have been relegated to the classification matches.
Meanwhile, UST forged a semifinal duel with La Salle — the same pairing in last season’s UAAP Final Four.
READ: UST Tigresses outlast FEU Lady Tamaraws to win V-League crown
Angge Poyos poured in 15 points to eliminate University of the East, 25-22, 25-21, 25-21.
“We just focused on staying composed, keeping consistency throughout the game—that’s what we held onto, and communication is really important,” said Poyos, who made 15 of her 28 attack attempts. “When you’re on the court and you start feeling rattled, just breathe, stay calm, and relax.”
Reg Jurado had 12 points for the Golden Tigresses, while Kyla Cordora and Jonna Perdido added eight and seven points, respectively.
Casiey Dongallo only played in the first set for UE with four points as Jelai Gajero carried her team with 18 points off 12 kills, three blocks, and three aces.