NATIONAL University players lead in five statistical categories, but coach Edjet Mabbayad said it won’t just be about the numbers when the Lady Bulldogs kick off their Final Four campaign in the Shakey’s V-League tomorrow.
The Lady Bulldogs, the only unbeaten team in the tournament, hinged their surprisingly strong run on the towering Dindin Santiago (league best server and second-best scorer), Myla Pablo (best spiker), Jennylyn Reyes (best digger and receiver), and Rubie de Leon (best setter).
“It’s nice that my players are leading those categories but all these will be nothing if we can’t show discipline, hard work and focus in the Final Four,” said Mabbayad.
“The past will not matter now, it’s what we do in the Final Four that will.”
The Lady Bulldogs take on Adamson in Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinals at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Philsporst Arena in Pasig City.
Defending champion Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas clash in the other pairing at 2 p.m.
“They keep saying we’re the favorites but I think we’re not,” said Mabbayad. “We’re as good as any team out there.”
The Lady Bulldogs swept their four elimination games and sustained their perfect run with a 3-0 card in the quarterfinals.
Santiago, at 6-feet-2, ranks second in the league in scoring with a total of 118 points and leads in service with a 0.87 average per set and a league-best 20 aces.
Pablo came out most efficient in spikes (49.02 percent), while Reyes topped on digs (2.91 per set) and reception (48.06 percent) and De Leon on sets (8.39).
The Lady Eagles, though, are focused on retaining their crown with the late addition of Thai ace Jeng Bualee in their lineup.
Bualee, who suited up for the eliminated San Sebastian, leads the league in scoring with 158 points.
The power-hitting Bualee reinforces an already potent Ateneo cast that includes Alyssa Valdez, Fille Cainglet and Rachel Daquis.
Schedule
Game 2 is set on Thursday at Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, while Game 3, if necessary, will be played on May 19 at Philsports.
The Mall of Asia Arena will host the first two championship games on May 23 and 26 before heading back to Philsports for the decider, if necessary.