Game 1 of the 2025 Shakey’s Pre-Season Unity Cup Finals took place at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum on the evening of November 8, where National University claimed the Game 1 victory over the University of Santo Tomas.
Zam Nolasco Gives College of Saint Benilde the 7th Spot
The match day began with the classification games of 7th – 8th, which featured the College of Saint Benilde taking on San Beda University.
Basically, a heavyweight NCAA matchup, one wherein the 4-time champion CSB Lady Blazers have yet again dominated.
Despite a brief challenge from San Beda in the second set, assistant coach Onyok Getigan’s rotation of reserves kept firm control of the game, wrapping up the win in just 86 minutes.
FINAL SCORES = Set 1: 25-10, Set 2: 25-20, Set 3: 25-14
Zam Nolasco starred for CSB with 10 points, including five blocks, while Clydel Catarig and Fionna Inocentes added nine and eight markers, respectively.
The Lady Blazers capitalized on the absence of San Beda’s main scorer Angel Habacon, who sat out the match.
Even with the loss, San Beda achieved its best finish in the SSL, led by Janelle Bachar’s six points and Jeliane Catubig’s five.
Kianne Olango Helps UP Get the 5th Finish in the “Battle of Katipunan”
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons overcame an early deficit to outlast the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles in the “Battle of Katipunan” Classification Match for 5th and 6th place.
The match started with both teams trading blows in the opening frame. Kianne Olango struck early for UP with consecutive points, but KC Cortez and Yssa Nisperos led Ateneo’s counterattack, capitalizing on UP’s early miscues to secure the first-set win after a long rally capped by a Nisperos block.
In the second set, UP’s second unit came alive. Down 7-8, the Fighting Maroons unleashed a massive 18-8 run behind Olango and Jelai Gajero, completely flipping momentum to tie the match. Ateneo’s errors mounted as UP’s energy soared, allowing the Maroons to take control.
The third set saw both sides engage in long rallies and tight exchanges. Ateneo built an early lead behind Ana Hermosura and Zey Pacia, but UP’s resilience shone through, with Olango delivering crucial kills down the stretch.
Despite a brief Ateneo comeback capped by Dona De Leon’s clutch points, Olango’s cross-court spike sealed the set.
With momentum on their side, UP dominated the fourth frame from the start. The Blue Eagles fell into a 0-5 hole as the Fighting Maroons’ net defense stifled Ateneo’s attack.
Although Nisperos trimmed the deficit with back-to-back kills, UP’s frontliners remained firm.
Bien Bansil closed the match with a massive single block, clinching a Set 4 victory and the fifth-place finish.
FINAL SCORES = Set 1: 25-23, Set 2: 25-16, Set 3: 25-23, Set 4: 25-16
Olango led all scorers with 17 points (16 from kills), while Gajero added 16, and Nina Ytang tallied 12. Casiey Dongallo, Yesha Noceja, and Bansil chipped in with consistent support throughout the game.
For Ateneo, Hermosura posted 13 points, while Pacia and Nisperos each contributed 10, with the latter leaving the game late in the fourth after an ankle injury.
Despite the loss, the Blue Eagles showed flashes of promise as they now turn their attention to the UAAP Season 88 next semester.
This fifth-place finish marks UP’s best result in the SSL since joining the league, a testament to their steady improvement under Coach Fabio Menta.
Bulldogs vs Tigresses for the Main Event
The third match was the most anticipated as it was Game 1 of the Finals between the undefeated NU Lady Bulldogs versus the UST Golden Tigresses.
After struggling through the opening set and being crushed in the fourth, the Lady Bulldogs maintained their poise in the fifth frame despite trailing 10-12 late in the match.
The Tigresses had previously taken control of the decider through Regina Jurado’s kill, giving them a 12-10 cushion, before NU’s late surge turned the tables.
Bombita ignited the Lady Bulldogs’ comeback with an off-the-block hit, followed by a Tigresses rotational fault, a kill from Abegail Pono, and an overreach violation by Poyos that placed NU at match point.
NU then unleashed a decisive 5-0 closing run to stun the Tigresses with Maaya’s block then sealed the thrilling win and seize the upper hand in the best-of-three title series.
The four-time defending champion National University showcased its championship composure by escaping with a hard-fought Set 5 win.
FINAL SCORES = Set 1: 25-15, Set 2: 25-23, Set 3: 25-17, Set 4: 25-13, Set 5: 15-12
Rookie Sam Cantada made an impressive return from her national team duty, leading the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points off 16 kills and two service aces, steering her team to its ninth consecutive win of the tournament.
“Our mindset is to reach our goal. We all want to take this game,” said Cantada.
Chams Maaya proved to be a wall at the net, producing eight of NU’s 13 kill blocks, including the final denial against Angge Poyos that sealed the marathon two-hour-and-39-minute encounter.
Maaya ended the night with 14 points, while Kaye Bombita and Vange Alinsug added 11 and nine markers, respectively.
UST, on the other hand, saw its seven-game winning streak snapped after the late-game collapse.
“I just told them we have to focus on the process and not the result. Because every time we do that, we tend to forget a lot of steps and we’re always in a hurry, which causes problems,” explained NU head coach Regine Diego.
“Once we tried to focus everything by steps, especially our passes, then it got better in the end.”
For UST, Poyos tallied 21 points (20 from attacks), while Jurado, Marga Altea, and Xyza Gula contributed 12, 11, and 10 points, respectively.
The tournament will continue next weekend with the bronze medal clash between Far Eastern University and Adamson University on November 15, followed by the Game 2 Finals between NU and UST.
A winner-take-all Game 3, if necessary, will be held on November 19.
