THE WINNING streak of National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament continues, as they outlast the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses on Sunday, March 16.
Nothing is more exciting than seeing the previous season’s finalists face off in their first meeting of the new season. In front of 12,790 fans at the Araneta Coliseum, the two universities did not disappoint.
After battling each other in the UAAP Season 86 Finals, NU kept on being dominant in the “Battle of Sampaloc,” defeating UST 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, and 15-9.
This victory allows the Lady Bulldogs to finish the first round of the elimination phase with a perfect 6-0 record, while the Golden Tigresses fall to third place with a 5-2 record, trailing the DLSU Lady Spikers who has the same record.
NU Owns Sampaloc
With pride on the line, NU demonstrated that they’re still the queens of Sampaloc. The former squad won for the fourth time in a row against UST, dating back to the second round of UAAP Season 86.
Furthermore, this team’s league-wide supremacy must be considered, as they extend their winning streak to ten games, a record that began with last year’s Final Four and continues to this day.
While the Lady Bulldogs secured another victory, it was not as easy as their previous ones. The Golden Tigresses took an early lead in the first set before roaring back and winning it.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
NU quickly picked up the tempo, winning the second set 11-1 and tying the game. However, Regina Jurado and Angge Poyos proved irrepressible, winning 2-1 in the third set.
However, UST squandered an opportunity to end the game, forcing it to the fifth set. National U then established an early 4-1 lead, allowing them to maintain complete control until the game’s completion.
Fresh off her withdrawal from the KOVO Draft, Alyssa Solomon led the Lady Bulldogs with 24 points, 21 attacks, and three blocks, while Bella Belen contributed 19 points, 17 digs, and 15 receptions.
Meanwhile, as usual, the two essential players led the Golden Tigresses. Jurado finished with 16 points, 16 digs, and nine receptions, while Poyos, the league’s second best scorer, was held to 13 points.
Streak Buster
Prior to this game, UST had a five-game winning streak, losing just their first game against the FEU Lady Tamaraws. This is an opportunity for NU to put their character to the test and determine whether they have what it takes to defend the crown.
“Masaya kami kasi na-experience namin ‘yung ganitong labanan. Talagang hindi rin magpapatalo ‘yung UST, happy ako na nakarecover kami down 2-1. Hopefully mapolish pa namin ‘yung lapses namin,” said NU head coach Sherwin Meneses.
Solomon, the game’s highest scorer, is pleased with how her team performed, and she commends the entire Golden Tigresses squad for giving their all.
“Yung panalo namin today, hindi siya naging madali. Yung UST, inaral talaga nila yung bawat laro namin. Binigay nila yung best nila, so very happy kami na pinusuan namin yung win,” said Solomon after the game.
Nonetheless, UST will attempt to rebound first against the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, March 19, before moving on to the second Battle of Sampaloc versus NU on Saturday, March 22, at the MOA Arena.
