There were plenty of heroes in National University’s 20-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-21 win over University of Santo Tomas to clinch its fifth straight UAAP Finals appearance, but none more crucial than Vange Alinsug and Arah Panique.
The two wing spikers made sure the Lady Bulldogs would not succumb to the Golden Tigresses despite dropping the first set and allowing their opponents to build late leads in the next three frames.
Panique hammered three straight points in the second set to erase a 17-20 deficit and tie the game, before drilling the attack that put NU at set point. A UST error then leveled the match at one set apiece, 26-24.
NU found itself in a similar hole in the third set, again trailing 17-20, but Panique and Alinsug, along with Camilla Lamina, Celine Marsh, and Chams Maaya, dug deep to snatch the 2-1 set advantage, 26-24.
“Masaya po kaming lahat kasi binigay po talaga namin yung best po namin kanina and makikita po yung eagerness kanina na manalo, makuha yung Finals spot na yun kasi yun yung ini-aim ng team. Kanina pinusuan at binigay lang yung kung ano dapat na ibigay namin,” said Panique, who finished with 23 points.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
But the biggest fightback came in the fourth set, where the Golden Tigresses looked poised to send the match into a deciding frame after taking an 18-14 lead.
Lady Bulldogs captain Alinsug then led by example, scoring six points in a massive 11-3 finishing run that sealed the win and the Finals spot.
Alinsug ended with 18 points, 10 of which came in the fourth set. She also tallied 16 receptions and seven digs.
“Sobrang proud ako kasi talagang nilabas namin kung gaano rin talaga namin kagustong panalunin ito,” said Alinsug.
“Hoping din na sana magtuloy-tuloy and may mga ensayo pa naman kami na need pa mapolish yung kailangan naming ipolish sa training.”
NU will face De La Salle University in the Finals for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
The Lady Spikers have been waiting in the Finals for two weeks after sweeping the elimination round.
Game 1 is set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
