National University-Sta. Elena made quick work of young Santa Rosa City, 25-16, 25-16, 25-22, rainy Saturday afternoon in the 2022 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena.
The Nationals stayed spotless at 3-0, joining Cignal at the top of the standings, while the Lions fell to 1-3, still at fifth.
“Bago kami magstart dito, sinabihan ko naman ‘yung mga bata na kahit sino naman ‘yung kaharap namin basta ‘yung sistema nakukuha namin,” said NU-Sta. Elena head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
The Nationals doubled up the Lions early in the first set, 14-7, ultimately taking a 25-15 scoreline.
Santa Rosa was able to keep in step in the second period, down by just a point 6-7, but it was all NU-Sta. Elena after that, 25-16.
Alinsunurin then inserted his second-stringers in the third salvo to finish the job as MJ Fortuna led the Nationals to a 25-22 closer.
“Ginamit ko rin talaga ‘yung mga nasa baba kasi sa ibang game kailangan ko sila eh, as long as ‘yung second six ko magiging maganda ‘yung performance any time na hugutin ko sila,” he said.
Nico Almendras topscored for NU-Sta. Elena with 12 points and seven excellent receptions, while Fortuna got 10 points in less than two sets of action.
Joshua Retamar, playing against his former coach Edu Lirio, tallied a team-high four blocks to end with six points to go with 10 excellent sets.
The Lions were led by Andrew Barilea and Jade Disquitado with eight points apiece.
Santa Rosa played without one of its key cogs in Gabby Hernandez for the majority of the match after he hurt his left foot early in the first frame.
NU-Sta. Elena will be back on Tuesday to face VNS-One Alicia at 2:30 pm. Meanwhile, the Lions will try to regain their winning ways on Thursday against Army-Katinko.
