UAAP: Lady Bulldogs simply too good, remain perfect
–MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
Even before all of this began, being the defending champion, National University (NU) knows that every team has its sights zeroed in on the Lady Bulldogs’ backs.
But even as the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament competition continues to heat up, the Bulldogs’ lore of invincibility just keeps on growing following an eighth straight win—11 if their semifinal and championship series wins from last season are counted.
“We worked for this because we know that come the second round, our games won’t get any easier,” captain Bella Belen said in Filipino after a 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18 triumph over La Salle on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: UAAP: Bella Belen works her service magic again for NU Lady Bulldogs
Belen may say that it will never be easy, but she and the rest of the team are making it look like they are as the rest of the field is now pressured to inflict a first loss on the Bulldogs and make sure that a Final Four is played.
Otherwise, a sweep would see National U directly into the title series before a stepladder semifinals is played.
“Every win will be important for every team, because this will dictate what everyone’s ranking will be at the end,” Belen said after dropping a game-high 23 points made up of 17 attacks, four blocks and a pair of aces apart from 17 excellent digs.
But it doesn’t mean that NU will be comfortable sitting on its lofty perch, not with champion coach Sherwin Meneses, who always pushes his wards to find ways to improve regardless of what success they are enjoying.
“For us, we’re just working on what else we can improve on,” Belen went on. “There are still a lot of games to be played and the teams also have a lot of time to study us and find ways to defeat us.
FEU sweeps UST
“The same is true for us, we also have a lot of days to work on our lapses,” she added.
With Lams Lamina’s usual spectacular playmaking of 21 excellent sets, Alyssa Solomon also had the chance to pound the Lady Spikers with 19 points out of 17 kills, a block and an ace while Vange Alinsug added 11 points.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University earlier scored a season sweep of University of Santo Tomas, with a 25-22, 26-24, 17-25, 26-24 victory giving the Lady Tamaraws a tie for second with the Golden Tigresses.
The Tamaraws opened their second round with a win that basically stated that the first one wasn’t a fluke, and the season sweep was the first for them over the Tigresses in seven seasons.
Faida Bakanke led the Tamaraws with 22 points built on 18 attacks and a pair of blocks and aces. Gerz Petallo had an all-around performance of 12 points, all but one from kills, with 15 excellent digs, while Jaz Ellarina also added 12 points and Tin Ubaldo distributed 22 excellent sets.
Far Eastern and Santo Tomas are now at 5-3, a full three games off the lead after the National U win. INQ
