MANILA, Philippines – For the third time in the last four years, the NU Lady Bulldogs and the La Salle Lady Spikers clash in the UAAP women’s volleyball finals, starting with the Season 87 finals Game 1 on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 11, at the Araneta Coliseum.
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FIRST SET
- NU 12-9: Bella Belen crosscourt hit. Timeout La Salle.
- NU 11-9: Alexa Mata blocks Alleiah Malaluan
- NU 10-9: Alyssa Solomon crosscourt hit
- 9-9: Mikole Reyes serve out
- LA SALLE 9-8: Amie Provido running attack
- 8-8: Bella Belen through the block
- LA SALLE 8-7: Alleiah Malaluan off the block
- 7-7: Mikole Reyes mis-set, Lilay del Castillo slips
- LA SALLE 7-6: Vange Alinsug off the block
- LA SALLE 7-5: Shevana Laput backrow hit
- LA SALLE 6-5: Angel Canino off the block
- 5-5: Vange Alinsug combi play
- LA SALLE 5-4: Alyssa Solomon crosscourt out
- 4-4: Shevana Laput ace
- NU 4-3: Angel Canino through the block
- NU 4-2: Alyssa Solomon through the block
- NU 3-2: Angel Canino crosscourt hit
- NU 3-1: Vange Alinsug off-speed hit
- NU 2-1: Bella Belen ace
- 1-1: Alexa Mata quick attack
- LA SALLE 1-0: Amie Provido quick attack
- NU STARTERS: Bella Belen, Vange Alinsug, Alexa Mata, Alyssa Solomon, Lams Lamina, Erin Pangilinan, Shaira Jardio (L)
- LA SALLE STARTERS: Alleiah Malaluan, Shevana Laput, Mikole Reyes, Angel Canino, Amie Provido, Lilay del Castillo, Lyka de Leon (L)
Winning one championship each over the other in Seasons 84 and 85, both squads look locked in for an exciting trilogy series to determine which side gets the proverbial leg up.
Now in the final stretch of her collegiate career, two-time MVP and potential three-time winner Bella Belen is expected to go all-out for NU in what’s very likely the last two to three games of her Lady Bulldogs’ career.
On the other side, one-time MVP Angel Canino seems deadset on making sure history repeats itself in the form of La Salle foiling another NU title defense like it did in Season 85 in 2023.
In terms of supporting casts, the outlook has not changed much for the Lady Bulldogs since their last finals defeat of the Lady Spikers, with Belen still flanked by import-caliber star opposite Alyssa Solomon, Best Setter frontrunner Lams Lamina, and veteran middle blockers Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan.
Meanwhile, the likes of rising star spiker Vange Alinsug, unsung libero Shaira Jardio, and middles Alexa Mata and Chammy Maaya emerged as the new prominent faces since the last time NU won gold at La Salle’s expense.
The Lady Spikers, on the other hand, flaunt almost an entirely new lineup since their last championship, as Canino and fellow vet Alleiah Malaluan now boast a support crew bannered by the vastly improved MVP candidate Shevana Laput, rookie setter Mikole Reyes, and middles Amie Provido and Lilay del Castillo.
Both teams have had their share of struggles in Season 87, with NU falling to complacency woes and La Salle struggling with offensive consistency beyond Canino and Laput.
But if the last few weeks of the season have been any indication, it’s that both sides have seemingly shaped up and postured as the title contenders they’re truly perceived to be. The only question is, which team will draw first blood?
First serve is at 5 pm, following the men’s finals Game 1 clash between defending champion NU and FEU. – Rappler.com