Shakey’s Super League: NU off to winning start, Arellano goes 2-0

NU Lady Bulldogs during a 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-season Championship game. –SSL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — National University gave coach Sherwin Meneses a winning 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-season Championship debut after overcoming a second set loss to Ateneo, 25-12, 25-27, 25-16, 25-17, on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Meneses, the most successful PVL coach of Creamline, finally made his comeback official in the Philippine collegiate volleyball scene as NU opened its ‘three-peat’ bid on a high note in Pool A.

Erin Pangilinan was dominant in the middle, nailing seven of the team’s 14 blocks and scoring nine kills to finish with 17 points, while Vange Alinsug stepped up with 14 points, restoring the order for the Lady Bulldogs after dropping the second set.

READ: FEU, UE open Shakey’s Super League campaigns on high note

Alinsug believes NU still has a lot to work on under Meneses, who replaced Norman Miguel and just started handling the team in their participation in the AVC women’s club championship in Thailand.

“We still have a lot to learn because the tournament is long,” said Alinsug. “Ateneo gained confidence [in the second set] and our second stringers felt some pressure, but we know they would bounce back because we know them well.”

UAAP two-time MVP Bella Belen had eight points, while Alyssa Solomon added seven in their first game in the SSL since sweeping the National Invitationals in July.

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

Ateneo dropped to a 1-1 card as no one scored in double figures with Lyann De Guzman and Zey Pacia leading the charge with nine and eight points, respectively.

UE, Arellano triumph

Meanwhile, Casiey Dongallo dropped 11 points to lead the University of the East to its second straight win in Pool B with a 25-17, 25-20, 25-15 sweep of the debuting University of Perpetual Help.

Dongallo scored seven of her production in the third frame including five in the Lady Warriors’ 8-0 blitz that turned a slim two-point lead into a 21-11 separation.

“Before the start of the game, assistant coach Doc Obet (Vital) told us not to be complacent, no matter who the opponent is. We really have to play based on what we’ve prepared,” said Dongallo, who only scored one point in one set of action in the opener last week.

Riza Nogales chipped in eight points while Bea Zamudio, Yesha Rojo, and Kayce Balingit added five each for the Lady Warriors, who received 26 free points off the Lady Altas’ errors. Jelai Gajero, who had 20 points against the Lady Pirates, only played in the opening set and scored one point before sitting out the next two.

UE, though, will miss Dongallo against Mapua on Saturday due to a scheduled platelet-rich plasma injection for her injured right hand.   

Cyrill Alemaniana led Perpetual Help with 11 points in a losing effort.

Kristine Adnte goes for a hit during a 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-season Championship game. –AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER

In the other Pool A match, Arellano rallied from a 1-2 match deficit to frustrate San Beda, 25-19, 22-25, 20-25, 25-10, 15-6, for a 2-0 start in the tournament.

The Lady Chiefs rode the momentum of their strong fourth set outing for a 5-0 lead to start the deciding frame before burying the Lady Red Spikers deeper, 14-5.

Middle blocker Fhaye Mangubat blasted a game-high 20 points including eight in Arellano’s fourth set. Marianne Padillon added 13 markers with her last coming off a through-the-block kill after San Beda saved a match point.

Arellano, which swept Emilio Aguinaldo College last week, lost main winger Laika Tudlasan to a left ankle injury following a bad landing while trailing, 17-14, in the third set.

It fired up the Lady Chiefs to mount a fightback and eventually hand the winless Lady Red Spikers their second five-set loss after suffering a reverse sweep against Ateneo last week. 

Angel Habacon and Sophie Cagalawan finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively, for San Beda.