NU women still team to beat as volleyball Final Four unfolds – BusinessWorld Online
ALL EYES are still on the mighty National University (NU) after the Final Four cast in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball became clear days before an expected slugfest this weekend at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gunning for a repeat, top-seeded NU as early as last week drew No. 4 Far Eastern University (FEU) while La Salle secured the No. 2 seed and the other win-once bonus against the third-ranked Santo Tomas after their thrilling playoff Wednesday night.
It’s the same cast as last year only with a tweak in rankings of La Salle and Santo Tomas as NU remains the undisputed team to slay, the squad to be measured against and the biggest hurdle for the three other teams on the Philippine collegiate scene’s Mt. Rushmore.
But that doesn’t mean the Lady Bulldogs, unbothered on top, will rest on their laurels.
“Hindi kami nasa-satisfy kung anong naging performance namin,” two-time MVP Bella Belen said as NU topped the two-round eliminations with a 12-2 slate.
NU, armed with a twice-to-beat incentive, bowed to FEU in Game 1 but still took care of business in the next game that snowballed to a sweep over Santo Tomas in the finale.
That’s the second title for the Lady Bulldogs in the last three seasons — and now they have their sights on the third. Ms. Belen, too, seeks a third MVP title to further solidify her UAAP legend.
Even if that means going through the FEU juggernaut again before another all-out battle against either La Salle or Santo Tomas from the other pairing.
Interestingly, NU swept all of those squads this season with its two losses coming against University of the Philippines and Adamson.
“Mas gutom kami ngayon. Kailangan kada game, nagi-improve kami, kahit kaunti. Kung kaya pa naman na may maipakitang bago at mas itaas pa ‘yung laro namin,” Ms. Belen vowed. — John Bryan Ulanday
