Lady Bulldogs SSL champions

MANILA, Philippines — Dynasty untouched.

Already without Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, unbeaten National U protected its queendom and completed a four-peat feat with a thrilling escape act against rival Santo Tomas, 22-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10, in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs, like in Game 1, flaunted their championship pedigree in times of adversity by erasing a 1-2 set deficit before raining it down on the Golden Tigresses in the clincher for their fourth tiarra in a row with a season sweep.

No team had ruled the SSL since its revival in 2022, putting the Lady Bulldogs on a league of their own as the country’s best collegiate volleyball team owing to three titles including a back-to-back feat in the last four seasons of the UAAP as well.

That stature was put into doubt in this year as NU marched onto the battlefield without the multi-awarded duo of Belen and Solomon as well as middle blocker Sheena Toring and team captain Erin Pangilinan after their graduation.

But new skipper Vange Alinsug was quick to squash any uncertainties by taking over when it mattered most as she anchored NU’s blazing 10-5 start in the fifth set capped by a thunderous crosscourt kill to set the tone en route to another gutsy win.

“Sobrang special sa amin nito kasi alam naming sobrang dami naming pinagdaanan lalo na wala na ‘yung mga go-to namin,” said Alinsug, who finished with 19 points on 13 hits, three aces and three blocks.

Alinsug finished what super rookie and former juniors MVP Sam Cantada started, cruising steady to 24 points on 20 kills, two blocks and two aces to announce her roaring arrival in the women’s division as the Lady Bulldogs shift their focus to another gigantic goal in the UAAP – a three peat.