NU whips Perpetual, gains V-League quarters

MANILA, Philippines - National University fought back from two sets down and to pull off a stirring 12-25, 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-12 victory over Perpetual Help and clinch the last quarterfinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Mervic Mangui came back strong after a series of so-so performances, firing 28 hits, including 22 attacks, as she teamed up with Maricar Nepomuceno and guest player Denise Santiago in helping the Lady Bulldogs book the sixth and last quarterfinals seat.

It was a big comeback for the Bulldogs, who seemed to have lost their bite after dropping the first two sets in lopsided fashions. But Mangui, Nepomuceno and Santiago presided over NU’s third-set charge.

It was NU the rest of the way as the Lady Bulldogs reasserted their mastery over the Altas, whom they also beat, 3-0, in the elims.

But with 2-5 carry-over card, NU will have a lot of catching up to do in the single-round quarters, starting off with a match against powerhouse San Sebastian-Excelroof on Thursday.

Impressive in the first two sets, the Altas turned erratic in the last three, its last attacking error ending the one-hour, 50-minute encounter between the newcomers in the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Excelroof.