Lady Bulldogs go for jugular

Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)

12:30 p.m. – Awarding Ceremony (men’s)

1 p.m. – NU vs FEU (men’s finals)

4:30 p.m. – Awarding Ceremony (women’s)

5 p.m. – DLSU vs NU (women’s finals)

MANILA, Philippines — National University goes for the kill against La Salle in Game 2 to usher in a new dynasty in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 5 p.m. with the Lady Bulldogs wanting no let-up after a Game 1 brilliance that propelled them one step closer to a back-to-back title feat and a third title in four seasons in which they made the finals every time.

A dynasty in the making — at the expense of La Salle’s winning legacy — it is for NU, but not without taking care of business first in the potential clincher even before its establishment.

“Hindi pa naman tapos ang laban. ‘Yung Game 2 talaga ‘yung paghahandaan namin,” said first-year mentor coach Sherwin Meneses, eyeing to rub off his magic over to the UAAP from the PVL with the Creamline dynasty as well.

NU, tagged the heavy favorite even in the preseason, lived to that lofty billing by whipping La Salle in the opener, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, behind the troika of Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon and rising star Vange Alinsug.

A win by the Lady Bulldogs, in the process, could also gift the senior duo of Belen and Solomon a fitting swan song with three titles apiece as they transition to the pros.

And that would not be handed to them on a silver platter by the vengeful Lady Spikers, warned Belen.

“Kailangan naming paghirapan at pag-trabahahuhan every point. Hindi basta-basta ibibigay sa amin ‘yung game at ‘yung championship,” said team skipper Belen, who’s also poised to win her second straight Most Valuable Player plum and third overall for most in UAAP history in the awarding ceremonies at 4:30 p.m.

“Marami pa kaming pwede ma-improve pagdating sa Game 2. Hindi ko naman nakikita na magiging overconfident kami. Hindi kasi kami nagpapa-kampante sa kung anong ginagawa namin.”

La Salle, for its part, will not go down without a swing especially under the watch of Ramil de Jesus in his 21^st finals appearance, promising  to unleash a last ace up on their sleeves to force a winner-take-all duel.

Angel Canino and Shevana Laput have been tasked to lead the retaliation to keep the 12-time champion Lady Spikers’ title redemption alive since beating the Lady Bulldogs in Season 85 to deny them a three-peat.

Far Eastern University eyes the same mission as NU in the men’s play, seeking to end the Bulldogs’ four-peat reign at 1 p.m. for their first title since Season 74 (2012). Awarding is set at 12:30 p.m.

“Isang step pa. Kalahati pa lang nakapasok eh. Isa pa so wang titigil. Hindi pa tapos. May isa pa,” said Tamaraws mentor Eddieson Orcullo after a gutsy 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13 win in Game 1 to end NU’s unbeaten finals stint since Season 79 (2017).