Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon capped off their collegiate careers with a storybook ending, powering National University to a second straight championship in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs were relentless in their pursuit of redemption after being denied a back-to-back title two years ago by the De La Salle Lady Spikers. This time, they left no room for doubt.
NU dominated La Salle in Game 2 of the Finals with a commanding 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 sweep, clinching their third title in four seasons on Wednesday at the jampacked SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory marked NU’s fifth UAAP women’s volleyball championship overall, adding to their Season 16 (1954), Season 18 (1956), Season 84 (2022), and Season 86 (2024) titles. It also signaled the school’s first-ever back-to-back championship in women’s volleyball history.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa mga seniors kasi yung chemistry na nabuo namin within eight months, sobrang bilis. Yung leadership nila, especially si Bella, talagang napakagaling niyang maghandle ng team,” said NU head coach Sherwin Meneses, who steered the Bulldogs to the title in just his first year at the helm.
“Knowing Coach Ramil, yung sistema niya talagang buong-buo na. Naglalaro pa lang ako, Coach Ramil na siya. Masaya ako na nakalaban namin siya at this time, nanalo naman,” he added, reflecting on his past struggles against La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus during his time coaching Adamson.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Determined not to repeat their Game 1 lapse — where they allowed La Salle to steal a set before eventually winning, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17 — the Lady Bulldogs stayed locked in from start to finish in Game 2.
Despite stunning setbacks during the elimination round against University of the Philippines and Adamson University — both of which failed to reach the Final Four — NU peaked at the right time, dispatching Far Eastern University in one match in the semifinals.
With NU holding a slim 16-13 edge in the third set, Belen, Alexa Mata, and Erin Pangilinan combined for a crucial 7-3 run to break the game wide open, 23-16.
Spotify co-Finals MVP Vange Alinsug then sealed the deal with a down-the-line hit and a crosscourt kill to end the match after one hour and 32 minutes of play.
“Sobrang saya, hindi ko ma-explain yung feeling talaga. Parang naghahalo na lungkot, saya, excited — parang lahat na. I’m super happy kasi nagawa namin yung goal namin this season,” said Belen, who dropped 18 points, 11 digs, and eight receptions in her final UAAP game.
“Hindi siya naging madali for us, nagkaroon kami ng mga talo and marami beses namin kwinestiyon kung tama ba ginagawa namin. Sa pagtiyatiyaga at pagiging masipag namin, ‘ayon, nakamit din namin yung goal namin this season,” added the newly crowned three-time UAAP MVP.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Alinsug, who exploded for 21 points in Game 1, added 10 in the clincher. Her co-Finals MVP, libero Shaira Jardio, dazzled defensively once again with 21 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions, following her 28 receptions and 18 digs in Game 1.
The first-ever UAAP co-Finals MVP duo shared the award and received a total of P50,000.
Solomon chipped in 13 points in her final collegiate game, while Mata added eight markers.
Setter Camilla Lamina kept the offense ticking with 16 excellent sets.
This latest triumph adds to NU’s trophy haul this UAAP season, which includes titles in women’s basketball, women’s beach volleyball, men’s tennis, men’s badminton, baseball, and women’s taekwondo kyorugi — bringing their Season 87 championship total to seven.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
On the other side, Angel Canino led La Salle with 12 points, 15 receptions, and nine digs. Shevana Laput, named the AIA Defensive Player of the Finals, backed her up with 10 points on seven attacks, two blocks, and an ace.
Following the loss, La Salle seniors Alleiah Malaluan, Jyne Soreño, Jessa Ordiales, and Julyana Tolentino stood together in the middle of the court in the trademark archer’s stance — signaling the end of their collegiate journeys with the Lady Spikers.
