Lady Bulldogs target crown

MANILA - National University sets out for a rare feat in the Premier Volleyball League today, eyeing no less than a sweep of the Collegiate Conference crown against Far Eastern U at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Lady Bulldogs pounced on the Lady Tams’ late miscues and pounded out a 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 26-24 victory in the opener of their best-of-three title series late Wednesday. And unless the underhanded Morayta-based squad could neutralize NU’s power and edge in experience and match its endgame poise, the Lady Bulldogs could be on their way to completing a nine-game sweep of the season-ending conference crown of the league organized by Sports Vision.

After his wards scrambled at the finish that enabled the Lady Tams to threaten in Game One, NU coach Babes Castillo this time expects the Lady Bulldogs to come out of their 6:30 p.m. clash fiercer and confident.

“We’ve seen some rallies that we could've controlled right away. But like I said hindi pa nila makuha ang balance on being relaxed and assertive," said Castillo of his wards.

The match can be viewed live via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com/livestream/pvl.

But the Lady Tams will have to worry more on how to defuse the 6-4 Jaja Santiago, who fired 15 kills, including four kill blocks, in their fourset win that also saw Risa Sato score 12 markers, Audrey Paran deliver 11 points and Jorelle Singh and Aiko Urdas combine for 17 hits.

Urdas also came up with 16 digs as the Lady Bulldogs survived the Lady Tams’ 14-ace outing.