The National University Lady Bulldogs showed their vintage form and championship experience in the two games they played in the second week of action in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. For the latest updates on the tournament, including the full schedule, standings, and results, check out our page on UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball: Schedule, Standings, Results.
The Lady Bulldogs had an easy match against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, winning in straight sets, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15, on Wednesday, February 19.
When they faced the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, February 23, the defending champions were pushed to their limits as the gritty Morayta-based squad held a 2-1 lead.
Fortunately for the Lady Bulldogs, the trio of Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Vange Alinsug came together. It showed their leadership and championship experience on the court to stay unbeaten with a 3-0 record.
Here are the other things you missed on the second weekend of the UAAP Volleyball Tournament.
5
The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws pushed the defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs to their limit in their first-round match with the Lady Bulldogs taking a win after a hard-fought 25-15, 23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-8 battle against a gritty Lady Tamaraws.
Alyssa Solomon erupted for 23 points while Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug combined for 30 points. The Lady Bulldogs also dominated all skills in the stat sheet, scoring 64 off spikes, 10 block points, and 10 service aces.
Solomon said, “Nung fourth set, sinabi namin sa isa’t isa na huwag natin hayaan masayang yung pinagtrabahuhan natin nung mga nakaraang week kasi talagang pinaghandaan natin yung FEU. Huwag natin bitawan agad.”
The National University Lady Bulldogs will next face the University of the East Lady Red Warriors on Saturday, March 1, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
17
On her return to the taraflex after suffering a sprained left ankle before the opening of the season, Sobe Buena scored 17 points to lead the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles cruise past the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-18, 25-22, 25-18.
Lyann de Guzman contributed 14 points while Alexis Miner had 12 points. In her post-match interview, Buena dedicated her game to teammates JLo Delos Santos and Zel Tsunashima, who suffered season-ending injuries.
She said, “I think we’re really very motivated — like now more so, even — kasi as I said, we’re not just playing for ourselves, we’re also playing for the Ateneo community. We’re playing for Zel and JLo.”
The Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles will next take on the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, March 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
7
The De La Salle University Lady Spikers are slowly returning to their old form as they tallied seven block points in their 25-21, 26-24, 25-20 win against the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
Alleiah Malaluan scored 16 points built on 13 attacks, 2 service aces, and a block. Team captain Angel Canino had 15 points while Shevana Laput scored 10.
For Lady Spikers head coach Ramil de Jesus, the team learned a lot from their straight-set loss against the National University Lady Bulldogs. He said, “Doon sa mga pinagdaanan namin nung game na ‘yun, may mga natutunan ‘yung mga bata kagaya nung kailangan nila ma-overcome ‘yung pressure.”
The De La Salle University Lady Spikers will next face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses on Wednesday, February 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
15, 12
In the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses hard-fought 28-26, 22-25, 25-23, 25-15 win against the University of the East Lady Red Warriors, the España-based squad recorded 15 block points. However, the Lady Red Warriors had good service throughout the game as they tallied 12 service aces, four coming from KC Cepada.
Luckily for the Golden Tigresses, Regina Jurado and Angeline Poyos combined for 43 points while Margaret Altea had 10.
Jurado said in her post-match interview, “Ayun nga, thankful na ganun ‘yung naging outcome kasi pinaghirapan talaga namin this past week ‘yung ipagpabuti namin ‘yung mga lapses namin individually para mapunan namin together as a team.”
The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses will next face the De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Wednesday, February 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
62
Four University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons players scored double digits and combined for 62 points in their 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 win against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.
Joan Monares led the scoring with 19 points while Kianne Olango contributed 17 points off 13 attacks, three blocks, and an ace. Nina Ytang had 15 points while Irah Jaboneta added 11.
Monares said, “First of all, it took a lot of hard work for the team kasi yung panalo na ‘to hindi siya tsamba. Pinaghandaan namin ‘to, nag-training kami, naghirap kami sa training kasi gusto talaga naming manalo.”
The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will try to bounce back in their match against the De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Sunday, March 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
10, 5
The defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs showed dominance in all aspects of their straight-set 25-23, 25-19, 25-15 win against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
The Lady Bulldogs recorded 42 spike points, 10 block points, and five service aces. Almost all players scored a point except for the liberos, Aishat Bello, and Arah Panique.
0, 0
In their straight-set defeat against the defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles recorded zero block points and zero service aces for the team.
No player also scored in double digits as Lyann de Guzman, Alexia Montoro, and Alexis Miner were limited to nine points apiece while Jihan Chuatico added eight points.
After the match, de Guzman admitted that it was hard for the team to play without two players – JLo Delos Santos and Zel Tsunashima – due to season-ending injuries. She told reporters, “Emotionally, alam naman natin ‘yon na mahirap talaga. But sabi namin sa isa’t isa, magkapitan lang talaga kami. Wala ‘eh, aksidente talaga tapos kapit lang sa isa’t isa. Nakakasad, pero nandiyan yung teammates namin to cheer us up.”
