Jaja leads NU past UE

Games Wednesday (The Arena, San Juan City) 8 a.m. – La Salle vs FEU (Men’s) 10 a.m. – UP vs Adamson (Men’s) 2 p.m. – UP vs Adamson (Women’s) 4 p.m. – La Salle vs FEU (Women’s)

National University remained a force to reckon with in the UAAP women’s volleyball after staying undefeated in three games yesterday at the expense of University of the East.

The Lady Bulldogs regained their poise from a third-set stumble before it turned back the Lady Warriors, 25-15, 18-25, 25-23, 25-19, at The Arena in San Juan City.

Jaja Santiago played her usual self, delivering sharp hits to finish with 23 points built on 18 kills, four blocks and one service ace as the Lady Bulldogs continue their impressive start this season.

UE led early in the third 3-0 and 4-0 in the fourth, only to lose steam as Santiago joined hands with setter Jasmine Nabor to make aggressive plays for NU.

Shaya Adorador and Mary Ann Mendrez scored 11 points each but UE absorbed its third straight defeat.

In the other game, Ateneo downed pesky University of Santo Tomas, 16-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23, to barge into the win column after an alarming 0-2 start.

Ateneo overcame a 17-12 deficit in the fourth frame by halting the Tigresses’ offense anchored by Sisi Rondina to bounce back from losses to FEU and NU.

“We just went back to Coach Tai’s mantra of ‘Heartstrong’,” said veteran Bea De Leon, referring to Ateneo coach Tai Bundit’s familiar battlecry. “Everything we do, we have to do it happily and we just can’t give up.”

UST, which lost libero Rica Rivera to a right knee injury, fell to 1-2.

Earlier, defending champion Ateneo and NU thrashed their respective foes to forge a three-way tie at second spot with 2-1 cards in the men’s divisions.

Ateneo demolished UST, 25-22, 25-15, 25-23, behind 16 points from Marck Espejo while NU walloped, 25-14, 25-19, 2512, with Fauzi Ismail and Bryan Bagunas scoring 18 and 17 points, respectively.