Reigning champion National University turned back Santo Tomas in Game 1, 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-17, and zeroed in on a second straight title sweep in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
The Lady Bulldogs yielded their first set loss in the entire tournament but owned the next three sets for a significant win that set the stage for a historic back-to-back perfect campaign.
Overall, it’s the 17th straight win for NU, which rammed through eight games this season prior to the finals without suffering a single set defeat, in the SSL, following an eight-game sweep of Season 1 to usher in a possible dynasty.
Reigning MVP Alyssa Solomon once again stood at the forefront of NU’s quick rebound from a stunning first-set defeat, hammering 15 points on 11 hits, three aces, and a block.
Former UAAP Rookie-MVP Mhicaela Belen and Evangeline Alinsug chipped in with 13 points each, while skipper Erin May Pangilinan had 10 points in a scattered attack for the wards of returning mentor Norman Miguel.
“Maganda talaga ‘yung nilaro ng UST from the start. Depensa, service, passing. Naunahan kami kaya sa amin napunta ‘yung pressure. Hindi namin nilaro ‘yung laro namin,” said Miguel.
“Thankful pa rin na kahit paano may ipinakitang maturity ‘yung players. Usapan nalang namin, pusuan nyo na’ yan. Nag-joke pa nga ako, kahit puso ng saging basta may puso. Basta kunin lang itong first game then trabahuhin ‘yung Game 2.”
And NU did.
Like the defending SSL queens that they are after falling prey to the spirited UST side in the opening salvo, 21-25, the Lady Bulldogs flaunted their championship pedigree by dominating UST with little to no resistance from there on to stretch their amazing streak.
NU vows to spike for no less than the ultimate prize on Saturday – at all costs.
“We’ll do our best na talagang kunin na ‘yung Game 2 regardless kung ilang sets. I’m sure kasi gusto rin ng UST talaga at maganda motivation nila for this finals, talagang tumatrabaho rin talaga kaya kailangan naming trabahuhin. We’ll get this opportunity na may isang game nalang kami para tapusin,” said Miguel.
Angeline Poyos, Regina Jurado, and Jonna Perdido fired 13, 12, and 11 points, respectively, for UST, which is out to force a winner-take-all Game 3.
Earlier, Far Eastern escaped past Adamson in five sets, 25-20, 25-19, 12-25, 14-25, 15-12, to move on the cusp of securing the bronze medal of the SSL Season 2 backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports, and United Auctioneers, Inc.
Meanwhile, College of St. Benilde claimed the fifth spot, while Ateneo clinched the seventh place in the SSL Season 2 in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.
St. Benilde hacked out a 25-12, 20-25, 22-25, 29-27, 15-4 win over the University of the East, while Ateneo escaped Arellano, 25-16, 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11.
All SSL Season 2 games are accessible across all platforms live and on-demand through the social media pages of Plus Network and SSL, with Solar Sports, Blast TV, and Aliw Channel 23 as TV partners.
