SM Mall of Asia Arena’s bright stage turned into a harsh reminder for the National University Lady Bulldogs that championship dynasties are never simply inherited, as their bid for a rare three-peat ran into a ruthless De La Salle University side in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Finals.
The unbeaten Lady Spikers asserted their dominance once more, leaning on poise and composure to sweep NU, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18, and move within a win of clinching the title while dealing a heavy blow to the Lady Bulldogs’ championship defense.
For NU head coach Regine Diego, the gap between the two teams is no longer about talent or skill — but mentality.
Diego remains convinced that her squad has the tools to go toe-to-toe with La Salle’s well-oiled machine, led by Angel Canino, Shane Reterta, and Amie Provido, which has yet to taste defeat through 15 games in Season 88. But she stressed that NU’s path back into the series hinges on mental toughness.
“Everything sa championship is more mental than physical na. Everything is pantay-pantay na sa skills, mental na lang. We just have to focus on that again and go back to the drawing board and do our best for the next game,” Diego told reporters on Wednesday evening.
For stretches of Game 1, the Lady Bulldogs looked every bit like a championship-caliber squad capable of challenging La Salle’s reign, even threatening to replicate the push they made in their second-round encounter. But when it mattered most, the Lady Spikers showed championship composure.
NU even built a five-point cushion, 19-14, in the opening set, but La Salle clawed its way back behind the combined efforts of Canino, Provido, Reterta, and Lilay del Castillo to steal the frame, 25-23. The Lady Spikers then took control in the second set, cruising to a 25-18 win.
In the third set, NU once again came out strong with a 4-0 start and briefly held hope of extending the match. But La Salle responded with a ruthless surge, erasing a 14-15 deficit and storming ahead, 23-15, en route to completing the sweep in 97 minutes.
“Siyempre, we have to learn na we cannot stop kasi may mga moments na lamang kami, meron lang talaga padulo na pero hindi namin nakuha,” she emphasized.
Despite the stinging defeat, Diego knows there is no luxury of time for recovery. Game 2 is set this Saturday, May 9, at the same venue — and waiting on the other side is her former mentor, La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus.
Having once been part of the La Salle system herself, Diego understands fully that nothing will be given easily in the next outing. For NU, the mission now is a full mental reset to keep its three-peat hopes alive.
“Syempre, I know they’re not going to give it to us as easy as that kaya nahirapan din kami. For sure, babawi kami for the next game,” Diego said.
“I told them to hold their heads high because it’s not the end. If we get too emotional about this, it’s harder for us to move forward. Trabaho lang kami para makalaban kami hanggang sa dulo. Medyo upsetting, pero we have to focus more on preparing than i-feed yung masyadong malungkot na atmosphere,” she said.
“Confident pa rin kami for the next game.”
