NU’s Jaja Santiago, made all of her 6’4 presence felt, dropping 18 points and leading the National University Lady Bulldogs to a 25-21, 25-20, 25-23 sweep at the San Juan Arena.
The Lady Tams did not have an answer for the league’s tallest player, as Santiago recorded her 18 points on 14 for 28 spiking while registering two aces and two blocks. Graduating veteran Rizza Mandapat, also put in her best performance of the season, dishing out 13 points off eight attacks, three blocks, and two aces.
All the sets were neck-in-neck early, with FEU’s blocking, valiantly holding up against NU’s many offensive weapons. But the girls from Recto stumbled when Jaja Santiago manned the net; inadvertently forcing FEU into consecutive errors. NU used the threat of Jaja to clinch crucial points from their spikers.
NU’s win places them at solo third, with a 6-6 record while FEU drops to seventh with a 4-8 slate.
The Lady Bulldogs have the Lady Falcons on Wednesday at the MoA Arena, while the Lady Tams will play against the Lady Maroons on the same day.
The Scores
NU – Santiago 18, Mandapat 13, Pablo 10, Singh 10, Dadang 3, Soliven 2, Perez 0, General (L), Valdez (L)
FEU – Basas 15, Casugod 9, Palma 8, Pons 8, Guino-O 7, Negrito 1, Dawson 1, Malabanan 1, Atienza 0, Papa 0, Agno (L)
