National University capped another perfect season with a thrilling come-from-behind 22-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10 victory over University of Santo Tomas in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals, completing a four-peat in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Led by prized rookie Sam Cantada and veteran Vange Alinsug, and orchestrated by eventual tournament Most Valuable Player Lams Lamina, the Lady Bulldogs once again shocked the Tigresses in a match that went the full five sets.
Composure and championship experience carried NU through, as the Lady Bulldogs carried the momentum from a strong fourth-set rally into a decisive fifth set, extending their dominance with a 10-game sweep in the league’s centerpiece tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.
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Cantada powered NU with 24 points from 20 kills, two aces, and two kill blocks, while Alinsug added 19 markers. Kaye Bombita contributed 14 points as the Lady Bulldogs completed a second straight season sweep after winning the National Invitationals Davao Leg.
Lamina, who was also named Best Setter, and backup playmaker Abegail Pono formed NU’s offensive backbone. Lamina tallied 25 excellent sets while Pono added 26, helping NU convert 65 kills.
Defensively, Shaira Jardio stepped up with 18 digs and 11 excellent receptions, frustrating the Tigresses just as she did in NU’s 15-25, 25-23, 25-17, 13-25, 15-12 escape in the series opener last week.
“We’re happy kasi nag-champion kami. Congrats din sa UST because they’ve been playing well, malakas din talaga sila. Na-gauge namin yung kaya naming gawin pa,” said first-year NU head coach Regine Diego, who joined the elite ranks of former champion Lady Bulldogs mentors Karl Dimaculangan, Norman Miguel, and Sherwin Meneses.
“Hopefully, you get to see more of us in the future. Hopefully, we can defend our title not just here but also in the UAAP,” added Diego, whose next goal is to steer NU to a three-peat in the UAAP next year.
NU broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth set with an 8-3 run, aided by four costly UST errors, to take a 10-5 lead. A failed net-touch challenge by the Tigresses during the rally gave the Lady Bulldogs a 12-8 cushion. Bombita and Alinsug then pushed NU to championship point at 14-9, before UST managed to save a point.
Under pressure, Tigresses middle Mary Anne Coronado overcooked her serve, allowing NU to claim the title and erupt in celebration, capping a dominant campaign supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel-Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets, and PusoP.com as technical partners.
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UST, missing Angge Poyos due to a sprain suffered during practice, was powered by 16 points from Xyza Gula. Julia Balingit had 13, Regina Jurado posted 12, and Marga Altea added 11 points in UST’s second silver medal finish following a runner-up showing in 2023.
Individual awards went to Jardio (Best Libero) and Jurado (Best Opposite Spiker). Other awardees included Adamson University’s Shaina Nitura (1st Best Outside Spiker), Gula (2nd Best Outside Spiker), NU’s Chams Maaya (1st Best Middle Blocker), and UST’s Marga Altea (2nd Best Middle Blocker).
All games from the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
