THE National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs are all set to meet the tenacious University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in their third consecutive UAAP women’s volleyball finals appearance.
This comes after their remarkable triumph against Far Eastern University yesterday, May 8, 25-13, 27-25, 25-15, which was a comeback from their previous sweep against the fierce Morayta-based squad.
In front of 13,054 fans inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, the Lady Bulldogs proved to the volleyball fans why they are the team-to-beat, and why they came up on top after the elimination round.
Meanwhile, NU head coach Norman Miguel, despite securing their return to the Finals, believes that their team has a lot more to work on if they aim to bring home the championship to their beloved community.
“Syempre sobrang masaya going to the Finals again yung Lady Bulldogs. Papunta na rin ulit sa goal ng team namin yung sinasabi nga nilang redemption,” said NU head coach.
“Alam namin hindi magiging madali yung labanan sa Finals na ito so kailangan namin trabahuhin talaga siya knowing na nagkaroon kami ng lapses that’s why we lost to FEU nung Game 1,” added the returning tactician.
Former MVP Bella Belen went all out dropping a major performance of 21 points on 16 attacks and five service aces along with 14 digs, backed by Sheena Toring’s 13 points, six blocks, five attacks, and two aces.
UST stuns top-seeded FEU
In the men’s volleyball Final Four rubber match, the España-based pulled off another upset against the number one team of the elimination round in FEU. Winning the rubber match, 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 26-24.
This has been the first time since the Final Four era that a fourth seed entered the Finals. UST shocked FEU last Sunday in straight-sets fashion, 25-23, 25-19, 28-26, to force a do-or-die.
“Actually, I just let them play the whole match, kaunti lang yung interference ko. I was actually a cheerleader earlier, not their coach. I let them play and they delivered,” said Golden Spikers head coach Odjie Mamon.
Josh Ybañez, despite the Tamaraws trying to limit him, led the España-based offense with 19 points and 13 receptions while Gboy De Vega unloaded 18 points and 13 receptions as well.
The Game 1 of the Finals for both men’s and women’s best-of-three series will kick off on Saturday, with NU and UST men’s volleyball team clashing at 2PM, followed by the much-anticipated women’s battle at 4PM.
