NU edges La Salle to seal preseason 3-peat, this time with new coach

NU Lady Bulldogs complete a third straight title run in the Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Championship after beating La Salle Lady Spikers. –SSL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — An emerging dynasty team in the collegiate volleyball scene and a Grand Slam coach in the pros proved to be a match made in heaven.

In coach Sherwin Meneses’ first local stint back at the collegiate level, National University completed a historic ‘three-peat’ in the Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Championship after sweeping La Salle, 23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-20, in Finals Game 2 on Sunday night at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs, led by the MVP tandem of Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen, also captured a sweep of the 2024 SSL season, pairing the Pre-season title with the National Invitationals crown back in July.

READ: Sherwin Meneses’ experience, knowledge bolster intact NU Lady Bulldogs

3PEAT COMPLETE AND A 2024 SEASON SWEEP!#ShakeysSuperLeague2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ZCQPHnvCgF

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) November 24, 2024

Meneses, who was tapped by NU as its new women’s volleyball coach last August, made an immediate impact bolstering the winning culture of the Lady Bulldogs with his own system built in the PVL with the Creamline Cool Smashers, who recently swept three conferences in the 2024 season.

“Thankful ako palagi sa Itaas na binibigyan kami ng championship na ganito, ‘yung experience na mapanalo ‘yung isang team. Hopefully, madagdagan pa,” said Meneses, who came from an out-of-town game from Ilocos Sur less than 24 hours ago.

“Talagang trinabaho lang namin ‘yung dalawang teams. Talagang tinatrabaho lang din ng mga players. Magaganda ‘yung samahan. Nagtutulungan ‘yung players at coaches. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaka-importante.”

Expecting La Salle to fight back, the new NU coach urged his wards to stay hungry despite the 25-16, 25-12, 27-25 win in Game 1 two days ago.

True enough, Belen, Solomon, and Co. came out short in the first set as they needed to erase a 20-23 deficit. Shevana Laput, however, brought the Lady Spikers at set point followed by Lilay Del Castillo’s frame-clinching block.

READ: NU Lady Bulldogs sweep their way to Super League title anew

The reigning UAAP champions stayed composed with their second unit setting the tone to bounce back in Set 2 and eventually dominating the third with an 18-6 spread off Vange Alinsug’s ace to inch a frame closer to a championship with a 2-1 lead.

NU Lady Bulldogs’ Bella Belen. –HANDOUT PHOTO

NU carried the momentum in the fourth with a 18-12 lead from Belen’s back-to-back hits. Solomon stretched the advantage to 23-16 but La Salle scored three straight points off Alinsug’s two consecutive attack errors.

Amie Provido committed a crucial service error that put NU at championship point, 24-19. Angel Canino saved a point before Alinsug drilled the game-winning kill.

READ: UAAP: With intact core, NU Lady Bulldogs look to stay contenders

La Salle swept its way to the finals, winning all of its eight matches only to settle for a runner-up finish with two consecutive losses to NU, its 2022 championship tormentor.

Solomon, a two-time league MVP, finished with a game-high 19 points, all from her 34 attack attempts to complete a sweet revenge on La Salle, which ended their 28-game unbeaten run dating back to 2022 in the second round of the conference.

Belen won her second SSL MVP this year — her first Preseason championship –, following her National Invitationals crown as she delivered another well-rounded game with 15 points off 12 kills, two blocks, and an ace, as Alinsug finished with 10 points including two aces.

“I’m very happy kasi nakamit namin yung goal namin for Shakey’s kasi isa rin na to para magiging stepping stone namin, preparation namin for the upcoming UAAP Season,” said Belen.  “I’m very happy na nagawa ng team kung ano yung dapat gawin, sumunod lang yung pagkapanalo.”

For Belen and their new coach, their ‘three-peat’ success shouldn’t stop them from being hungrier as their ultimate goal is a successful title defense in the UAAP Season 87 early next year.

“Siyempre sobrang excited din ako na nanalo kami. Malaking tulong talaga ‘to sa preparation for UAAP. ‘Yun naman talaga ‘yung goal kaya sumali kami dito,” Meneses said.

The Lady Spikers gave up 35 errors with no one scoring in double figures.

Canino was the top performer with nine points. Alleiah Malaluan, who brought some spark for La Salle, had eight points. Del Castillo scored seven, as Shevana Laput, one of their main weapons, was limited to just six.