Bella Belen’s gritty play cranked up National University’s championship mettle to overcome Far Eastern University’s early lead and eventually win in a five-setter last May 4 to enter the finals and defend its title in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.   

The Lady Bulldogs will face De La Salle University’s Lady Spikers in a best-of-three series on May 11. The time and venue of the games have yet to be announced. (See “DLSU Lady Spikers trounce UST Golden Tigresses anew to barge into the volleyball finals” below.)

Belen, a two-time Most Valuable Player, came up with a triple-double—24 points, 14 digs, and 10 excellent receptions—to rouse NU from a sluggish start and repel FEU, 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15, at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A mainstay in NU’s Lady Bulldogs, Belen knew it was crucial for the seniors to lead and reignite the team for a comeback. “It’s crucial for us to look fired up so the younger players know we’re not giving up—and neither should they,” she said in Filipino

Reigning Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon echoed this sentiment, acknowledging that as the team’s veterans, they are responsible for setting the tone for the younger players. 

“It is we who should step up and take action first so the younger ones can follow our lead,” she said.

Vange Alinsug, who delivered 18 markers, said the Lady Bulldogs are determined to steer clear of the fate they suffered last season, when the Lady Tamaraws pulled off a stunning upset to force a do-or-die match despite NU having the twice-to-beat edge.

“Our current mindset is to make sure that what happened last season doesn’t happen again,” Alinsug said.

Camilla Lamina, who tallied 26 excellent sets, said the team members have shifted their mentality: They approach each game as a must-win.

For head coach Sherwin Meneses, who is making his first UAAP finals appearance, the message is clear: The job isn’t done until they have defended their title.

FEU stunned NU early, drawing first blood with a composed 25-20 opening set win. The Morayta-based squad built a 15-11 lead through the steady conversions of Gerzel Petallo and Faida Bakanke. 

NU’s Chammy Maaya sparked hope with back-to-back kill blocks, trimming the deficit to 15-14. But just as the Lady Bulldogs gained momentum, a slew of errors handed the set to the Tamaraws.

The neck-and-neck second set saw a déjà vu moment, with Chammy Maaya unleashing back-to-back blocks to give NU a 13-10 cushion. But FEU quickly flipped the script with a 3-0 run powered by Petallo’s back-to-back hits and a well-placed service ace from Mitzi Panangin to tie the score, 13-all.

Petallo took charge in the clutch, scoring four crucial points in the closing stretch, including the set-clinching block, to seal the commanding 2-0 lead for the Lady Tamaraws.

NU came to life in the third set, with Alexa Mata stepping up fresh off the bench to deliver 5 points built on 2 attacks, 2 blocks, and the set-winning service ace. Riding that momentum, NU cruised through the fourth set with ease, building a double-digit lead to force a decider. 

In the closing set, Alyssa Solomon fired off three straight, but FEU’s rookie Lovely Lopez anchored FEU’s rally.

Solomon’s crosscourt attack put NU at match point, 14-13, but Lopez responded with an off-the-block hit to tie the score at 14-all. NU got another chance to close out the match when Vange Alinsug put them up 15-14, but Lopez again kept the Tamaraws alive.

In the final moments, Belen took control as she delivered an off-the-block kill and a crosscourt hit to seal the win.

FEU coach Tina Salak commended NU for its consistent performance. “Strong team, champion team, exceptional players,” she said.

Despite the loss, she expressed hope for a stronger comeback next year.

Jean Asis, a fourth-year middle blocker, reflected on the strides the Lady Tamaraws have made from the past seasons. “Our team has made huge progress since Season 84. In just three years, we’ve made it to the final 4 twice. That’s a huge improvement,” she said, adding:

“We fell short, but we know we did our best and we gave NU a good fight.” 

Gerzel Petallo led the FEU charge with 14 points, 13 excellent digs, and 14 excellent receptions. Faida Bakanke scored 15 markers and Jaz Ellarina, 14 points.

SIDEBAR

DLSU Lady Spikers trounce UST Golden Tigresses anew to barge into the volleyball finals

BY NIKLAS ARRIOLA

Angel Canino again came up with a stellar performance and “showed heart” in powering De La Salle University to victory over University of Santo Tomas and a title showdown against National University in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball. 

The Lady Spikers toppled the Golden Tigresses, 25-22, 11-25, 25-21, 25-21, in their Final Four bout on May 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. They will try to claim a 13th championship when they go up against the Lady Bulldogs on May 11.

Canino, the team captain, produced 19 points on top of six digs and five excellent receptions against the tough defense of the Golden Tigresses. She was backed by outside hitter Alleiah Malaluan who nearly had a triple-double with nine markers, 15 digs and 10 excellent receptions.

“Of course, UST is not an easy opponent. They are known for an incredible defense and they don’t give up no matter how many points their opponents have. That’s why we have to show heart during the game,” Canino said in Filipino during the post-match interview.

The former Rookie of the Year-MVP added that her strong performance was a result of her being with Malaluan since high school: “I have a person that I can trust inside the court, which also boosts confidence since I’ve been with her for a long time, and my connection with Ate Leiah has always been there.” 

Middle blocker Amie Provido unleashed 15 points to fuel the DLSU offense. She praised her team’s combined effort as they closed in on bringing the crown back to the Green and White.

“We’re one step closer to our goal, so we will keep going in the finals,” Provido said.

Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado combined for 43 points in UST’s valiant effort, with libero Detdet Pepito anchoring the team’s floor defense with 25 digs and 14 excellent receptions.

The Lady Spikers’ head coach Ramil De Jesus said leading the team to their 21st Finals appearance is something to be proud of and his goal for his stalwarts. He said they “still have a lot of things to fix.” 

DLSU gave up 31 points to UST in errors, but was able to make up for it with a towering defense, piling up 11 blocks against UST’s 2. “Blocking has always been our strength. If it doesn’t work out, then we’ll be having a hard time under the net,” De Jesus said.

A power tip from Provido provided the spark for the Lady Spikers to a 7-2 run at the opening set, with Canino ending a long rally with a sharp attack for a 16-12 lead.

UST had its own 4-1 counter run to trim the gap, 18-17, turning the first set into a close battle before a tough cut shot from the left pin by Canino lifted DLSU to set point, to be followed by an error by Poyos to seal the opener.

Poyos bounced back immediately, scoring the first three points of the second set to give the Tigresses an early 8-4 edge.

A mix of errors from the Taft side and the blazing attacks of Poyos and Jurado proved too much as the España-based squad brought the match to an even state.

Deadlocks filled the third salvo as each squad refused to allow the other to pull away, before Shevana Laput got a denial at the net to start a 5-1 charge at the closing moments and Canino broke the UST wall for a 2-1 match lead.

Despite a slow start, DLSU managed to crawl out of an early 0-4 hole with an ace from Lilay Del Castillo, giving her team a 16-13 breathing room heading to the second technical timeout.

The Green and White later tightened its grip on the game, with Canino’s 19th point putting it to the brink, 24-20.

Poyos saved set point after winning an exhausting rally, but her errant service spelled doom for UST.

The Lady Spikers will face the defending champions, NU Lady Bulldogs, in a best-of-three Finals, while the Golden Tigresses settle for bronze.

Read more: UAAP women’s volleyball: De La Salle beats UST, preps for ‘real fight’