NU Bulldogs take profitable feeling into Final Four

A door was once left ajar for the enemy the evening prior to. National University stormed in and slammed it close, because of this delivering a remark win even with simply momentum—and a large number of faculty satisfaction—to play for.

Already confident of the highest seed and a twice-to-beat coverage within the Final Four, the protecting champions became again University of Santo Tomas (UST), 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 22-25, 15-9, within the UAAP Season 87 ladies’s volleyball on Sunday, leaving their perennial sufferer to select up the items.

The Golden Tigresses wanted a win to safe the No. 2 seed and the opposite playoff bonus outright, however the top-ranked Lady Bulldogs weren’t letting an opportunity to heat up for the high-stakes degree pass to waste.

“Even after getting tired and seeing [UST’s] determination, I didn’t see fear in my teammates,” skipper Bella Belen mentioned in a while after the victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City that driven her group’s list to 12-2 total. “So, even after they stole the fourth set, I had no doubts we’d not lose in the fifth and win the game.”

“I think we have more to show. We don’t get tired of striving for improvement,” added fellow ace Alyssa Solomon. “It’s as if we’re chasing a certain standard.”

After falling in need of marching immediately to the semifinals with a win-once edge, the Tigresses will now must struggle La Salle in a one-game playoff this Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena to decide who will get to flaunt the opposite coveted coverage within the knockout degree.

Both completed at 9-5 and can play a minimum of any other sport after the KO fit, since they’ll nonetheless face every different within the semifinals.

The Bulldogs will face No. 4 Far Eastern within the different part of the Final Four.

After stumbling within the opening set, the Bulldogs put out one fireplace after any other at the back of the heroics of Solomon and Belen. The latter was once adjudged the best of the sport, however no longer with out atmosphere her attractions at the subsequent problem that lay forward: the surging Lady Tamaraws.

“I think we’ve learned our lesson. We had a chance to win the series in the first game,” mentioned the reigning MVP after completing with 26 issues, regarding the Tams, who driven them to the semis restrict ultimate season.

“Fortunately, we are still hungry,” Belen added.

Reg Jurado starred for the Golden Tigresses with 19 issues, whilst Angge Poyos chipped in 15 extra. Marga Altea and Mabeth Hilongo each added twin-digit rankings.

Exiting on a excessive

Meanwhile, Adamson closed its season on a excessive word, dismantling University of the Philippines (UP), 25-13, 25-21, 25-18, previous.

Battling for satisfaction and laying the groundwork for subsequent yr, the Lady Falcons completed with a 6-8 list—a marked growth from ultimate season’s 3-11 mark.

Shaina Nitura, the record-shattering freshman, fired 22 issues to tempo Adamson and additional make stronger her case for Rookie of the Year honors. Fellow rookies Felicity Sagaysay and Frances Mordi additionally became in outings steeped with promise, in the long run serving to the Falcons to a fifth-place end over host UP, due to awesome fit issues.

The Fighting Maroons, as soon as a dismal horse within the Final Four derby, settled for 6th after a marketing campaign that also confirmed development.

Kianne Olango and Irah Jaboneta got here thru for UP, which racked up 5 extra wins so as to add to their haul ultimate yr. INQ