The NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate their Game 1 victory over the La Salle Lady Spikers in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship. –AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines – National University picked the perfect time to claim the undefeated armor with a 25-16, 25-12, 27-25 triumph in Game 1 of the best-of-three Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre 2024 title series of La Salle-season championship on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs used the deadly tandem of Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen to move one win closer to their third straight SSL Pre-Season Championship.
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NU looks to beat La Salle in Game 2 on Sunday to make it a “three-peat” and win the 2024 season after winning the National Invitationals last July
READ: Bulldogs and Lady Spikers renew bitter dispute for preseason title
Reigning two-time MVP Solomon led the team with 14 points while Belen added 10 points in two sets played as NU rebounded from a four-set loss to La Salle that snapped its 28-game undefeated streak dating to its inaugural season in the year ended 2022.
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“Obviously this is a championship, so La Salle will really fight because they are a championship team too. The break went in our favor in the third set, so we are thankful we won Game 1,” said NU coach Sherwin Meneses, who is seeking his first title with the Lady Bulldogs.
Alyssa Solomon of the NU Lady Bulldogs in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship. –AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER
“We will review our mistakes carefully to minimize our mistakes for Game 2, but we are happy to have secured the win.”
In the rematch of the 2022 Preseason Finals and Seasons 84 and 85 UAAP Championships, the Lady Bulldogs dominated the first two sets against the Lady Spikers.
However, last year’s National Invitationals winner La Salle pushed its rival to the limit in the third set, fighting back from 7-14 down with Shevana Laput and Angel Canino forcing a tie at 22-14.
READ: Shakey’s Super League: La Salle stands in the way of NU’s 3-peat bid
Aleiah Malaluan committed a crucial serving error that put NU back in the lead, but Canino drilled a kill through the block, followed by a spike from Lilay Del Castillo on a floating ball that made match point 24-23.
Solomon saved a point for the Lady Bulldogs, but Laput delivered back-to-back kills to regain the lead for the Lady Spikers. However, her second kill was ruled outside after a video challenge from the referee, reversing the decision that put NU on match point at 26-25.
Vange Alinsug provided the game-winning off-speed, finishing the game in one hour and 46 minutes.
“I noticed that our team became a bit complacent and relaxed during this time, especially when we had a big lead in the third set. Suddenly La Salle took advantage of our relaxation. But afterward, we reminded each other that we had to keep pushing because La Salle wasn’t letting up,” Solomon said.
The defending UAAP champions’ second unit set the tone for another one-sided game before Solomon took a 20-10 lead and never looked back for a commanding 2-0 lead.
Alinsug finished the game with seven points while setter Lams Lamina emerged as player of the game after providing brilliant plays for the Lady Bulldogs.
Laput was the only double-digit scorer for La Salle with 12 points off 10 kills, a block and an ace. Canino was limited to just eight points, scoring five of them in the third frame.
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The Lady Spikers hope to win Game 2 to force a playoff next week.