UAAP: NU begins volleyball tourney by sweeping S75 runners-up Ateneo

(Updated 4:47pm) After an early exit in the Final Four last season, a reinforced National University Lady Bulldogs team justified their tag as title favorites for Season 76, after downing the Ateneo Lady Eagles in three straight sets, 25-17 25-22 25-17, on Saturday at the Smart Araneta-Coliseum, in the opening match of the UAAP women's volleyball tournament.

“One step at a time, unang hakbang pa lang to, mahabang preparation pa,” said a cautious NU coach Edjet Mabbayad.

The Lady Bulldogs cashed in on their superior athleticism, compounded by Ateneo’s rookie errors, to forge a decisive 7-0 run in the third set to take home their first win this season. The 6’2” Dindin Santiago took home Best Player of the Game honors after tallying 18 points (14 kills, two serves). Blue chip recruit Jaja Santiago, added eight points in her debut game for the gold and blue.

“Nagamit nila yung biyaya sa kanila, yung height,” said Coach Mabbayad, referring to the towering Santiago sisters, “Gumalaw naman sila, maganda yung timing.”

The Ateneo Lady Spikers played surprisingly well in the opening frame, going tooth and nail with the Lady Bulldogs until the final deadlock at 13-13, when NU unleashed three short scoring surges of three points each, as Ateneo failed to battle them point for point. The NU lead then ballooned to five points after a kill by Jaja Santiago, 19-14.

The Katipunan contingent watered the lead down to four points, but lost composure towards the end, as two straight service points by Ivy Perez drove the nail into the coffin, giving NU the first set.

NU took an early lead in the ensuing set, scoring four straight points, 7-3, to prompt Coach Anusorn Bundit to press for time. The Lady Eagles showed signs of life later on, scoring three points off a block by rookie Michellee Morente and a service ace by Amy Amohiro, a run which NU managed to quell with their own 3-0 spurt to make it 15-10. Ateneo managed to inch closer by two points off a kill by Bea Tan, before pulling equal with their foes. However, a 3-1 Lady Bulldogs run created distance between them anew, 21-18.

The gold and blue went on to lead by as much as five points late in the second, but Ateneo closed within two, after another kill by Alyssa Valdez, 24-22. A rookie mistake on the serving end however, capped off Ateneo’s comeback effort, as Morente’s botched serve handed the second set to NU, 25-22.

With their first loss imminent, the Lady Eagles matched NU’s every point, and grabbed a one-point lead twice, once after a kill by Morente and another by Valdez, to make it 12-11. Ateneo managed to hold down the fort temporarily, but NU unleashed a late run, scoring seven straight unanswered markers to give them legitimate separation, as Valdez looked gassed. Dindin Santiago punctuated the win with a kill to make it 25-17.

Dindin Santiago led the way for the Lady Bulldogs, tallying 18 points, followed by Myla Pablo and Jaja Santiago with eight points apiece. Carmina Aganon and Dindin Santiago anchored their defense with seven and six digs respectively, while Ivy Perez assisted on 25 sets.

Valdez, last year’s leading scorer, tallied 16 points, followed by Fil-Aussie Amy Ahomiro with eight points and Michelle Morente with six. Dennise Lazaro logged five digs, while Julia Morado added 27 sets.

The Bulldogs feature a team top-heavy with veterans from last season, with their veteran core of Dindin Santiago, Perez, Pablo, Aganon, Precious Salibad, Siemens Dadang and Aiko Urdas still intact and in shape to go for another postseason run. The 6’5” Jaja Santiago only bolsters an already formidable line-up.

Ateneo on the other hand is on a rebuild of sorts, with the exodus of their “Fab Five” paving the way for Valdez and Dennise Lazaro to lead an otherwise young team. This year’s version of the Lady Spikers is composed mostly of rookies, starting with Ana Gopico, a former Palarong Pambansa MVP, Julia Morado, another recruit from the NCR Palarong Pambansa contingent, Kim Gequillana from Western Visayas State University, as well as Aerieal Patnong, a returning player hailing from University of Sto. Tomas High School. Mentoring the team will be new Thai head coach Anusorn Bundit.

The Bulldogs look to keep a streak going on Saturday, at 2PM, as they face University of the East, while Ateneo goes against FEU in the second installment of the Saturday schedule. - AMD, GMA News