Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon achieved their storybook ending, leading National University to a second straight championship in the UAAP.
The Lady Bulldogs were relentless in their pursuit of back-to-back titles, once denied by the De La Salle Lady Spikers two years ago.
NU dominated La Salle in Game 2 of the Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Finals, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19, to secure its third crown in four seasons on Wednesday at the jampacked SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Bulldogs won their fifth championship overall, also winning in Season 16 in 1954 and Season 18 in 1956. It was NU’s first back-to-back title romp in school history.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa mga seniors kasi yung chemistry na nabuo namin within eight months, sobrang bilis kasi yung leadership nila especially Bella talagang napakagaling niyang maghandle ng team,” said NU head coach Sherwin Meneses, successfully guiding the school to the crown in his first season.
“Knowing Coach Ramil, yung sistema niya talagang buong-buo na. Naglalaro pa lang ako, Coach Ramil na siya. Masaya ako na nakalaban namin siya at this time, nanalo naman,” he continued, after enduring losses after losses against De Jesus when he was still guiding Adamson University.
The Lady Bulldogs made sure to avoid a repeat of Game 1 where they became complacent in the third set before taking the 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17 win.
Although NU suffered stunning defeats to University of the Philippines and Adamson, which both failed to reach the Final Four, the Jhocson-based side peaked at the right time and took one match to bundle out Far Eastern University in the semifinals.
NU’s bid for a golden double for the third consecutive season remains on track.
With NU ahead by just three in the third, 16-13, Belen, Alexa Mata, and Erin Pangilinan combined for a 7-3 blast that put the game away, 23-16.
Spotify co-Finals MVP Vange Alinsug then delivered the final blows, a down-the-line hit and a crosscourt kill for the championship after one hour and 32 minutes.
“Sobrang saya, hindi ko ma-explain yung feeling talaga. Parang naghahalo na lungkot, saya, excited, parang lahat na. I’m super happy kasi nagawa namin yung goal namin this season,” said Belen, who delivered 18 points, 11 digs, and eight receptions in her final UAAP game.
“Hindi siya naging madali for us, nagkaroon kami ng mga talo and marami beses namin kwinestiyon kung tama ba ginagawa namin. Sa pagttiyaga at pagiging masipag namin, ‘ayon, nakamit din namin yung goal namin this season,” added the newly-minted three-time MVP.
Alinsug finished with 10 points after going for 21 points in their Game 1 victory while her Spotify co-Finals MVP Shaira Jardio dazzled with her defense for the second straight game, tallying 21 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions. In the first game, she registered 28 receptions and 18 digs.
The first-ever co-Finals MVP took home P50,000.
Solomon chipped in 13 points in her last game while Mata added eight points.
This title is NU’s seventh this season after also reigning in women’s basketball, women’s beach volleyball, men’s tennis, men’s badminton, baseball, and women’s taekwondo kyorugi.
Angel Canino led the Lady Spikers with 12 points, 15 receptions, and nine digs.
Shevana Laput, who was also named as the AIA Defensive Player of the Finals, backed her with 10 points on seven spikes, two blocks, and an ace.
Alleiah Malaluan, Jyne Soreño, Jessa Ordiales, and Julyana Tolentino were in the middle of the archer’s stance after the game, signifying that they had played their final game for La Salle.
