Second-ranked National University showed championship composure, unleashing an 11-3 finishing run to halt fourth-seed University of Santo Tomas’ climb in the stepladder and secure a 20-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-21 victory, booking its place in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Finals on Saturday.
Arah Panique and Vange Alinsug delivered the heavy blows in crunch time of the three sets NU won — all of them comeback wins — before a crowd of 14,334 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The back-to-back champions Lady Bulldogs will now gun for a third straight title against the De La Salle Lady Spikers, who swept the 14-game elimination round. NU, however, swept La Salle in last year’s Finals.
It will be the fourth Finals meeting between NU and La Salle in the last five seasons. Game 1 is set at 5:00 PM on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Bulldogs reached the championship round despite a challenging elimination campaign in the post-Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon era.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We are just happy that we’re here, we did our best for today’s game, and we’re just going to prepare for the next one. It’s still the same for everyone. We prepare, we do our best, and hopefully we get the championship,” said NU head coach Regine Diego, who will face her former mentor Ramil de Jesus for the first time in the playoffs.
De Jesus has guided the Lady Spikers to 12 championships and will be making his 22nd Finals appearance for the Taft-based squad.
UST looked poised to extend the match to a fifth set after building an 18-14 lead in the fourth frame behind the efforts of Xyza Gula, Regina Jurado, and Jonna Perdido. However, NU refused to be denied, closing the door with a decisive surge.
Alinsug spearheaded the rally, scoring six points in NU’s 11-3 finishing run, with support from Chams Maaya, Camilla Lamina, and Alexa Mata. The Lady Bulldogs wrapped up the win in two hours and 25 minutes, securing their fifth straight Finals appearance.
Presumptive Rookie of the Year Sam Cantada, who tweaked her left ankle midway through the second set, returned in the fourth and provided steady service during NU’s late push.
“Very happy kasi lahat kami pinagtrabahuhan talaga itong game na ito. Very crucial do-or-die game very happy ako sa performance ng team at sana tuloy-tuloy siya hanggang championship,” said Lamina, who orchestrated the offense with 34 excellent sets, while adding three points and six digs.
Panique, who anchored NU’s comebacks from 20-17 deficits in both the second and third sets, led all scorers with 23 points on 21 attacks and two blocks.
Last season’s co-Finals MVP Alinsug finished with 18 points, 10 of which came in the final set, alongside 16 receptions and seven digs.
Middle blockers Maaya and Mata also stepped up with 14 and 10 points, respectively, combining for nine of NU’s 12 blocks.
Shaira Jardio, co-Finals MVP last season, delivered 25-of-30 excellent receptions and 24-of-46 excellent digs in the victory.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other side, the Golden Tigresses, who survived two do-or-die matches to reach the stepladder finale, settled for third place for the second straight season.
It also marked the end of Detdet Pepito’s 11-year UAAP career with UST, capping a decorated run that includes six Best Libero awards (four in high school, two in college).
In her final UAAP match, Pepito tallied 23-of-47 excellent digs and 8-of-11 excellent receptions.
Jurado led UST with 19 points, including two blocks, along with 12 digs, while Poyos added 16 points, 13 receptions, and 10 digs despite limited action in the fourth set.
Perdido contributed 15 points, 21 receptions, and nine digs, as Cassie Carballo dished out 35 excellent sets to go with five points and eight digs.
