Lady Bulldogs disarm Lady Warriors
By JOHN BRYAN ULANDAY
Games on Wednesday (Mall of Asia Arena) 10 a.m. – UST vs UP (men) / 12 noon – ADMU vs AdU (men) 2 p.m. – UST vs UP (women) / 4 p.m. – ADMU vs AdU (women) The Lady Bulldogs cannot be stopped. Since being scarred in the opener, National U has been on a rampage, nailing a fifth straight win yesterday by rolling past University of the East, 25-13, 25-19, 25-16, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Except for the liberos, all players scored for the Lady Bulldogs, who needed only 76 minutes to notch the easy win as the Lady Warriors continued to nurse the absence of suspended head coach Jerry Yee.
Bella Belen scattered 11 points, 10 digs and five receptions in an all-around play as the Lady Bulldogs improved to 5-1 just behind the UST Tigresses (5-0), the only team that dented NU’s campaign so far back in the opening week.
“Syempre masaya kami dahil na-continue yung winning streak and then na-field in lahat ng mga players namin. Nag-perform at nag-contribute sila lahat. We’re very happy with that,” said coach Norman Miguel.
The Lady Bulldogs were a whole pack running roughshod on the hapless Lady Warriors with Vange Alinsug (9) and Aishat Bello (7) also putting up key numbers.
Nathasza Kaye Bombita, Alyssa Solomon and Arah Ella Panique chipped in five points apiece while six more players scored at least two points. Lams Lamina had nine sets as Shaira Mae Jardio tallied 13 digs and seven receptions.
NU, which made a comeback from an early 2-6 deficit in the second set – the Lady Bulldogs’ only trouble in the match – thus primed up for its anticipated match against La Salle next Saturday.
Super rookie Casiey Monique Dongallo was the only Lady Warrior in double digits as they slipped to 1-5.
Later, defending titlist La Salle was not to be left behind with a 25-15, 25-17, 25-18 win over listless University of the Philippines.
Angel Canino, the Rookie-MVP last season, hammered 16 points on 13 hits, two blocks and an ace while twin towers Shevana Laput (9) and Thea Gagate (8) threw in support.