Four years.
That’s how long it took for National University to finally win a game against Ateneo. The last time the Lady Bulldogs scored a win against the Blue Eagles was back in the first round of the UAAP Season 80.
Back then, Jaja Santiago was still wearing the blue and gold kit of the Lady Bulldogs while Tai Bundit was still the one calling the shots for the Blue Eagles.
Indeed, it has been a long wait for NU. But on Saturday afternoon, that losing streak finally came to an end all thanks to the new generation of the Lady Bulldogs.
Bannered by a group of young, talented individuals, National University took down Ateneo, 25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 25-22 to score its second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Happy kami siyempre kasi nanalo kami and yung tiwala na lang talaga sa team yun din, sa sistema ng mga coaches, sa sistema namin naniwala kami doon kaya rin siguro nanalo kami,” said Lady Bulldogs team captain Princess Robles.
NU tower Ivy Lacsina echoed her skipper’s sentiments, saying that the team’s trust in head coach Karl Dimaculangan’s system played a huge role in the Lady Bulldogs’ first win against the Blue Eagles in four years.
“Masaya rin po ako kasi ayun nga po, matagal na panahon na rin bago nanalo yung NU sa Ateneo and parang ito po yung pinaka excited rin po kami na game. Same lang din po sa mga sinabi ni [Princess Robles], sa sistema nag tiwala kami,” she added.
Robles, who scored 12 points in NU’s debut win against Adamson, fired 18 points in the win to go along with 13 excellent digs while Ivy Lacsina ended up with 12 points.
Mhicaela Belen also made her presence felt with 18 points to tie Robles. Alyssa Solomon added 15 points including four aces while Jennifer Nierva manned the floor with 20 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.
Was this a statement win for the Lady Bulldogs? Not at all, according to Dimaculangan. For him, the team still has a lot of room for improvement. And with the season still, just in its second day, Dimaculangan is looking at things one game at a time.
“Hindi pa rin siya statement win kasi second game pa lang namin so first round, sobrang haba pa before namin masabi siguro. Sobrang dami pa naming dapat ayusin sa team so marami pa kaming kailangan i-improve.”
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