LET THE BATTLE BEGIN
Three-game series. Two rivals. One stage.
National University (NU) and La Salle find themselves where most people expect them to be, jockeying for the most popular crown in varsity volleyball—the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball title.
The Lady Bulldogs, who won their previous championship duel with the Lady Spikers, are intent on turning their dominance into a dynastic rule. But standing in their way is the very opponent that denied them back-to-back reigns two seasons ago, one that is aching to return to a place they once called home.
“Maybe if the players can bring out what I’m expecting from them, we might be able to keep up—and maybe even have a big chance,” said Ramil de Jesus, the mastermind behind La Salle’s 12 championships in 20 finals appearances.
“We’ve got quite the height, so we need to capitalize on that through blocking,” he added. “When blocking works, you don’t even need to attack—it can turn the opponent’s attempts into our points. That’s one of the team’s strengths.”
Legacies will be on the line in this rubber match of a best-of-three that gets going on Sunday, 6 p.m., at Smart Araneta Coliseum, particularly for NU’s Bella Belen, the reigning MVP, and La Salle’s Angel Canino, a former MVP herself. The duel also puts a spotlight on De Jesus and NU coach Sherwin Meneses—two tacticians who have set the bar for excellence, the former in this arena and the latter in the pros.
Strategic adjustments
This chapter of the trilogy promises to be a clash of firepower and fortification. NU’s Belen, Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug all rank among the league’s Top 10 scorers, while La Salle’s trademark net defense will rely on Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido and Lilay del Castillo, who are among the tournament’s finest blockers through the semifinals.
While De Jesus emphasized the need for strategic adjustments and quick execution, Meneses has taken a more cutthroat approach ahead of the dance at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“Defending the crown has been the target, and not just to get to the Finals,” said the first-time NU coach. “So the mindset is to win the Finals.”
Meanwhile, NU’s men’s team is eyeing a fifth straight championship as they face top-seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the men’s finale, which gets going at 1 p.m.
This marks the Bulldogs’ 10th consecutive Finals appearance, while the Tamaraws, the most successful program in the division’s history, are determined to reclaim their former glory, last winning the crown back in 2012.
