The latest chapter in the rising rivalry between De La Salle University’s Lady Spikers and National University’s Lady Bulldogs will be written as they face off for the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball championship.

Whose legacy will last as the gold standard in this evolving era of collegiate volleyball?

Let’s look back at all the triumphs and tribulations experienced by DLSU and NU before the start of their best-of-three title showdown—the third time in four seasons—on May 11. (The second game will be on May 14 and the third, if necessary, on May 17.)

In Season 84, the Lady Bulldogs were a dormant volcano that exploded with a historic sweep of the Lady Spikers to eventually capture their third crown after 65 years in Season 19.

They became the third team in UAAP women’s volleyball history to complete an elimination round without a single loss in the Final Four format, joining DLSU’s clean record in Seasons 67, 74 and 76, and Ateneo de Manila University’s 16-0 campaign in Season 77.

NU made quick work of its duel against the Mars Alba-led DLSU, clinching both Games 1 and 2 in straight sets, and capped their undefeated run by bagging five of the seven individual awards.

Powering the team was then rookie Bella Belen, the league’s first-ever Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player (ROY-MVP) in the women’s division and the First Best Outside Hitter.

Belen was backed by now senior teammates Camilla Lamina (Best Setter), Alyssa Solomon (Best Opposite Spiker), and Sheena Toring (Second Best Middle Blocker). They formed a core built and boosted through years of development begun in their high school days.

Two familiar faces from their high school program also stood tall in other teams: ADMU’s Faith Nisperos, named Second Best Outside Hitter, and DLSU’s Thea Gagate, the First Best Middle Blocker.

NU’s sweep wasn’t just history; it was a statement of arrival declared with a new generation of stars and a program that finally found its ignition point.

Return of the Green Empire

After being dethroned in the season prior, DLSU stormed back in Season 85, finishing the eliminations as the top seed (13-1 win-loss card) and making quick work of its Final Four bout against the University of Santo Tomas to arrange a rematch with reigning champion NU.

DLSU won a gritty five-setter against NU in Game 1, followed by a stunning reverse sweep in Game 2 to complete the finals undefeated for its 12th title, the third-most in the women’s division.

The redemption was led by Season 86 ROY-MVP Angel Canino and a powerhouse cast that included Jolina dela Cruz (Best Outside Spiker, Second Best Outside Hitter), Thea Gagate (back-to-back Best Middle Blocker), and Mars Alba (Best Setter).

Even as NU’s Solomon exploded with 34 points in the finals, NU struggled to find its usual rhythm. Belen was held to just 11 points as the green-and-white dynasty reasserted its might.

All Blue and Gold, so far

This Season 87, NU is again relying on its championship caliber after capturing the title from the UST Golden Tigresses the previous year.

All signs point to now captain Belen and company being the dominant force in their fourth consecutive finals appearance and beating DLSU in two meetings in the elimination round—straight sets in the first and four sets in the second.

Belen shone for the Lady Bulldogs in both games, averaging 18.5 points, 7 digs and 11.5 excellent receptions. For the Lady Spikers, Shevanna Laput and Angel Canino were outstanding, averaging 18.5 and 11 points per game, respectively.

NU has raised the bar as the league’s No. 1 squad in the spiking department. Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Vange Alinsug ranked first, second, and eighth, respectively, as the tournament’s best spikers.

DLSU is the top blocking team, as exemplified by Laput and middle blocker Amie Provido in their recent games heading into the finals.

“Blocking has always been our strength. If it doesn’t work out, then we’ll be having a hard time under the net,” the team’s head coach, Ramil de Jesus, said in Filipino after their Final Four match against the UST Golden Tigresses.

The Taft Towers built a wall of combined 31 blocks over the past two games—something missing during their two encounters with the Lady Bulldogs in the eliminations.

Facets of vulnerability

NU and DLSU might have displayed facets of vulnerability at some points in the season, but they ultimately prevailed as the first and second seeds with the Lady Bulldogs sitting on a 12-2 record and the Lady Spikers securing a twice-to-beat advantage after a playoff against the Golden Tigresses.

Still, hurdling the Final Four games was not easy. NU needed to pull a reverse sweep against Far Eastern University, while DLSU shot down its tormentor UST to arrange their third meeting in the finals.

Both teams know that the championship will go to whoever desires it most—“ang pinakagustong manalo,” as Belen put it.

“In the finals, it’s back to zero for the two teams, and whoever wants to win the most will win,” she said after NU’s clincher over FEU.

For Canino, “the real battle is just beginning, and we need to prepare and improve what needs to be improved.”

Only one can bring home the crown, but the two teams nurse similar sentiments on fighting for something beyond the trophy.

Team captain Canino said it’s about upholding one’s spirit as a Lady Spiker and defending one’s team’s winning tradition. “What’s important coming into the finals is that players of La Salle have pride [in our work]. That’s part of the legacy Coach Ramil has built over the years,” she said.

For the Lady Bulldogs, it’s about giving their all for the departing seniors, like Belen and Solomon, and the legacy they will be leaving behind.

“Since it’s their last UAAP [games], I’m going to fight with all the things I learned from them,” Alinsug said.

Read more: NU stages dramatic comeback vs FEU for a reappearance at the finals