By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs barged to the finals of the Shakey’s Super League after a 25-13, 26-24, 25-20 sweep of the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday, November 5.
It was the seventh sweep in a row for the Lady Bulldogs, who needed only 83 minutes to capture the win in the knockout semifinals, with skipper Erin May Pangilinan and reigning MVP Alyssa Solomon leading the way.
Pangilinan fired 11 points on seven hits, two blocks and two aces, while Solomon cashed in 10 points on seven attacks, two blocks and an ace for the reigning champion Lady Bulldogs.
Former UAAP rookie-MVP Mhicaela Belen, Evangeline Alinsug and rookie Arah Ella Panique contributed nine, eight and seven points, respectively, for the UAAP Season 85 runner-up.
“Ganoon pa rin naman sa finals, kung ano ‘yung tinatrabaho namin, dapat sabay-sabay ang kondisyon nila. ‘Yun ang kailangan naming trabahuhin,” Lady Bulldogs head coach Norman Miguel said.
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses earned the right to face the Lady Bulldogs in the best-of-three finals after a 25-21, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20 victory over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the semifinals.
Rookie Angeline Poyos sizzled with 21 points on 17 hits and four blocks for the Golden Tigresses, while Jonna Perdido and Regina Jurado added 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Save for a third-set meltdown, the Golden Tigresses kept their poise in taming the Lady Tamaraws behind the heroics of Poyos, Perdido and Jurado in the first, second and fourth sets.
“Gusto ko ‘yung attitude ng mga bata. Hindi sila basta bumigay, nilaban nila. ‘Yun ang natutunan namin. Wala talagang bumitaw,” Golden Tigresses deputy mentor Lerma Giron said.
Chenie Tagaod had 16 points, while Faida Bakanke and Negrense Kiesha Bedonia added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Lady Tamaraws, which still have a chance at a podium finish against the Adamson Lady Falcons in the bronze medal match./ASC, WDJ