Reigning champion National University tamed University of Santo Tomas, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16, to remain unbeaten in Pool E of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship playoffs on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Evangeline Alinsug and Mhicaela Belen fired 12 and 10 points, respectively, to spearhead the Lady Bulldogs’ convincing win over the Golden Tigresses.
Sheena Toring and Erin May Pangilinan added seven points apiece for NU, now with a 4-0 slate in Pool E ahead of UST (31) in a tie with second-game winner Arellano (3-1).
“Sa team namin (going into playoffs), marami kaming bonding ngayon sa isa’t isa. ‘Yun yung maganda lalo na pagdating sa court, ‘yung connection namin hindi nawawala,” said Alinsug.
Meanwhile, Arellano pulled the rug from under Ateneo with 25-21, 25-18, 25-21 upset.
For Arellano, all players scored except for the liberos led by Marianne Padillon with nine points in a massive upset of UAAP’s Ateneo, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21.
Laika Tudlasan and Pauline de Guzman contributed seven and six points, respectively, while Heart Villaflores and Dodee Batindaan had five apiece for the Lady Chiefs.
“Naglaro lang po kami nang buo. Tsaka kailangan po namin manalo kaya naglaro kami as a team talaga. Mas gagalingan pa po namin next games,” said Padillon.
NU takes on Ateneo while Arellano goes up against UST in crucial Pool E duels on Sunday for quarterfinal positioning.
On the other hand, Far Eastern U took down Adamson, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20.
Faida Bakanke and Gerzel Petallo teamed up in the clutch as the Lady Tamaraws thwarted the Lady Falcons in each of the airtight sets to earn a gritty sweep in 85 minutes and post a 1-0 record in Pool F.
Bakanke dropped 11 points on nine hits, a block and an ace as Petallo hammered all her 10 points on attacks in FEU’s fourth win in as many games.
Eight more players racked up the scoring board led by Mitzi Panangin with eight points for the wards of deputy mentor Manolo Refugia.
“Naniwala lang po ako na mananalo kami. Doon po nag-start ‘yung confidence ko. Magtiwala lang sa sarili at sa team,” said Petallo, who delivered the match-sealing attack.
Antonette Adolfo put up 12 points to pace the Lady Falcons, who absorbed their first defeat after sweeping Arellano, Lyceum and San Beda in Pool B of the 16-team SSL in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.
