Lady Bulldogs deny Lady Tams, advance to third straight UAAP finals
NU’s Mhicaela Belen saves the ball during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, May 8, 2024. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO
MANILA, Philippines — National University marched to its third straight Finals appearance despite losing its twice-to-beat advantage early on.
The top-ranked Lady Bulldogs came to their senses and exacted vengeance on the fourth seed Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 25-13, 27-25, 25-15 in the rubber match of the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Final Four on Wednesday in front of 13,054 fans inside the Araneta Coliseum.
NU will start its best-of-three Finals matchup with University of Santo Tomas on Saturday, still at the Big Dome.
The two teams split their elimination round games with the Golden Tigresses getting the first round in straight sets and the Lady Bulldogs retaliating in the second round in four sets.
“Siyempre 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 Norman Miguel.
“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.
For the first time ever in the Final Four as well, it will be NU vs UST in the Finals in both divisions after their men’s counterparts set a date earlier in the day.
The Lady Bulldogs needed to surpass a tough challenge from the Lady Tamaraws in the second period, rallying from a 6-13 hole early and an 18-21 deficit late.
Tied at 25, one-time league MVP Bella Belen came through with an off-the-block kill followed by a strong rejection of Sheena Toring on Faida Bakanke for a commanding 2-0 set lead, 27-25.
Belen was ballistic with 21 points on 16 attacks and five service aces along with 14 digs.
Toring, who is celebrating her 23rd birthday today, hosted a party of blocks with six while also getting five attacks and two aces for 13 points.
Alyssa Solomon and Erin Pangilinan poured nine points each as the Lady Bulldogs dominated the spiking and service departments, 41-33 and 10-1.
NU also limited its errors to just 13 and did not commit a single miscue in the third set.
Unlike in the first game where the Lady Tamaraws had three players in double figures, this time there were none.
Chenie Tagaod led all FEU scorers with nine points, Gerzel Petallo produced eight, while Jean Asis and Bakanke got seven each.
The Lady Tamaraws fell short in their bid in a chase for a record 30th crown, but the Morayta-based program is simply glad to return to the Final Four after missing the bus in the last two seasons. TMT