NU sweeps La Salle, clinches 2nd straight women's volleyball title

MANILA, May 15 ------ The National University Lady Bulldogs are UAAP women's volleyball champions for the second straight year. The title will remain in Jhocson Street after the Sherwin Meneses-coached squad swept De La Salle University, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19, in their Season 87 Finals Game 2 clash at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. This is the third women's volleyball championship of National U in the last four seasons, and their fifth overall in the division. Moreover, NU now has a 2-1 lead in their Finals head-to-head record with the Lady Spikers. 

Prior to their Season 87 Finals faceoff, NU took home the championship in Season 84, while La Salle redeemed themselves by taking the crown in their rematch the following year. In 2024, Belen and company dumped University of Santo Tomas in two games for the Season 86 title, and she went on to deliver 18 points, 11 digs, and eight receptions for NU to sweep DLSU this time around. "I'm very happy kasi na-achieve namin goal namin as a team," she said after the game. "Marami kami pinagdaanan, nagkaroon kami ng mga talo, maraming times din a parang kinuwestion namin sarili namin and as a team kung tama ba ginagawa namin, kung nasa right path ba kami." "Pero nagtiwala lang kami sa sarili namin, sa teammates at coaches namin. Trinabaho lang namin hanggang sa Finals para makuha ang back-to-back," she added. 

Aside from Belen, Vange Alinsug and Shaira Jardio also rose to the occasion and eventually earned themselves the co-Finals MVP plums. "Yung fighting spirit nila. Kapag tambak kami, pag titignan ko si Ate Belle parang mafi-fire up ka rin," said Alinsug, who averaged 15.5 points in their two wins when asked about what fueled her step up further. "Knowing na aalis na talaga sila, aalis na po ba? Sana sa aming mga maiiwan eh madala namin ito sa susunod na season. Alam ko din naman talaga na kahit wala na yung seniors namin next year, meron ding mas malakas pa na papalit and paghihirapan naman namin yun," she added. 

Jardio, who had 19.5 digs and 20 receptions in the Finals, also shared the same sentiments. "Naka-mindset na po kasi ako na kailangan kunin ko lahat ng makakaya ko," she said. "Gusto ko lang na umalis sila na panalo." 

Aside from the trio, another ace in Alyssa Solomon also showed out in what was also expected to be her last UAAP game, pouring in 13 points and five digs, while Lams Lamina tossed all but one of NU's 17 excellent sets. The quintet's charge was a huge factor in NU tallying 48 attacks, 22 more than the 26 that La Salle put up. The Nationalians' floor defense also factored in limiting the kills of the Lasallians as they tallied a 53-35 advantage in the digging department. 

On the other hand, Angel Canino led La Salle in scoring with 12 markers on top of 15 receptions and nine digs, while Shevana Laput and Amie Provido followed with 10 and seven, respectively. Unfortunately, these weren't enough for the Lady Spikers to extend the collegiate careers of Alleiah Malaluan, Jessa Ordiales, Jules Tolentino, and Jyne Soreño. 

Source: news.abs-cbn.com