Santiago stars as NU books return trip to Finals

National University Lady Bulldogs sent down University of the Philippines in four sets, 21-25, 25-10, 27-25, and 25-21, in Game 2 of the 13th Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference Semifinals Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

With their victory over the Lady Maroons, the Lady Bulldogs have successfully returned to the Collegiate Conference Finals, and will have a chance to defend their crown.

Alyja Santiago, who came from a game this afternoon in the AVC Women’s Club Championships for Foton-Pilipinas, shone the brightest for NU by leading all scorers with 25 points off 19 attacks. Aiko Urdas supplied 16, while Jorelle Singh had 14 markers. Jasmine Nabor had 49 excellent sets in tonight’s win.

The Lady Maroons took advantage of NU’s sloppy play, erupting to a wide nine-point lead, 14-5, in the opening set. The Lady Bulldogs woke up and played catch-up to close by two, 23-21, late in the frame, but an unforced error on their side and a Tiamzon cross-court hit helped UP take a 1-0 set lead, 25-21.

Tables turned in the next frame as NU regained bearings and started to click on both ends of the floor. They led by ten, 16-6, midway, and with the solid attacks and service aces by Singh and Urdas, the Lady Bulldogs never allowed any UP comeback to happen and grabbed Set 2, 25-10, to go even at 1-1.

UP sustained the upper hand in the third set, even nearing just by two 23-19 to inch closer in taking the frame. However, NU raced back from the deficit and sent the match to a deuce, 25-all. And with Nabor and Urdas scoring back-to-back for the Lady Bulldogs, NU completed a comeback, 27-25, to go ahead 2-1.

The Lady Bulldogs sustained their momentum from the previous set and carried it over into the fourth. They led by as much as six, 21-15, and despite UP’s comeback at 21-19, NU never collapsed as Urdas and Santiago nailed key attacks to propel NU to the four-set win, 25-21.

Three Lady Maroons anchored UP in tonight’s loss, with Tiamzon and Diana Carlos each scoring 14 points. Isa Molde had 11.

NU will now wait for the winner of the ADMU-FEU series that will serve as their opponents in the Finals.

The Scores:

NU (3) – Santiago 25, Urdas 16, Singh 14, Doromal 9, Sato 6, Doria 4, Nabor 3, Paran 0, Valdez (L), Chavez (L).

UP (1) – Tiamzon 14, Carlos 14, Molde 11, Bersola 5, Buitre 5, Cailing 5, Ramos 1, Basarte 0, Dorog 0, Estranero (L), Gaiser (L).