ALL BARK, ALL BITE
Coach Sherwin Meneses has never shied away from letting people know he just inherited National University’s newly built tradition of women’s volleyball excellence.
He once heaped praises on the Lady Bulldogs’ poise and grit in the Final Four, when a re-emerging power almost knocked them off their lofty perch.
And now that they are gunning for a repeat, playing another side that is very eager in dethroning his Bulldogs, Meneses saw another side in his wards. And he didn’t mince words in telling everyone.
“I think NU showed something even better tonight—heart,” he told the Inquirer on the heels of an authoritative 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17 Game 1 triumph over La Salle in the Season 87 best-of-three title playoffs before a loud crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“La Salle, ever since, has always been competitive because their recruitment is solid … [But our players’] competitiveness showed [in this game],” Meneses went on as he continued to distance himself from taking credit for his crew’s prolific showing led by Vange Alinsug.
The third-year opposite hitter led the way with 21 points, allowing the Lady Bulldogs to set the tone early on and blunt the Lady Spikers’ fightback after fightback before 16,000 screaming fans.
Loss of focus
Save for a momentary loss of focus in the third set, the Bulldogs were in firm command throughout the match that lasted less than two hours.
And while grateful for the result, Alinsug framed the win as a result of the work that they put in the past few days.
“This is the most important—Game 1. Our six days of training [for this moment]showed results,” she said.
Skipper and reigning MVP Bella Belen had 17 points to go with 15 digs and 10 receptions, her triple double coupled with Alinsug’s brilliant effort just enough to turn back a Lady Spikers crew hell-bent on putting together what they had hoped to be a replay of their Season 85 encounter, where they swept the Bulldogs for the title.
Angel Canino poured 22 in points and added 13 receptions, while Shevana Laput chipped in 11 more. But the duo couldn’t take advantage of the lukewarm offensive performance of Alyssa Solomon on the other end, as the star Bulldog finished with just nine points.
And with La Salle’s role players hardly making an impact, the Taft squad buckled under the relentless pace of their enemy, and will now have no other recourse but to win this Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City if they hope for their season to extend.
Meneses, for his part, is already bracing for that.
“We know La Salle. They won’t go down easily,” he said. “Their fighting spirit is something else.”
But, knowing his players’ capabilities, Meneses didn’t mince his words. Especially with the Lady Bulldogs on the edge of what could be the school’s first-ever back-to-back reign.
“But we’re ready for the pressure ahead. Whatever kind that be,” he said with a smile.
