Lady Bulldogs force ‘rubber’ vs Spikers

Games on Saturday (Mall of Asia Arena)

2 p.m. – AdMU vs NU (men’s finals, AdMU leads series, 1-0)

4 p.m. – DLSU vs NU (women’s stepladder semis rubber match)

MANILA, Philippines - National University blitzed past La Salle in an unexpectedly one-sided duel, fashioning out a 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 victory yesterday to force a sudden death for the other finals berth in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Facing a no-tomorrow situation, the third-ranked Lady Bulldogs played with urgency and effectively dismantled the No. 2 Lady Spikers over one hour and 17 minutes to set the stage for the you-or-me setto in their stepladder semis showdown on Saturday.

“La Salle has the liberty to lose this game, siempre (having the), twice-to-beat sila (advantage). Masaya kami naipanalo ang first game pero hindi pwedeng mag-relax, ang dami pang dapat gawin (It’s good we won the first game but we can’t afford to relax as we still have our work cut out for us for Game Two),” said NU coach Roger Gorayeb.

Earlier, Marck Espejo sizzled with a season-high 31 points as Ateneo Blue Eagles trounced holders National U Bulldogs, 25-19, 30-28, 20-25, 25-22, to move one win away from a first-ever UAAP men’s title.

The Lady Bulldogs produced a lot of heroines in pulling off the ego-boosting win. Myla Pablo and Jaja Santiago turned in 13 hits apiece while Jorelle Singh (11), Rizza Mandapat (10) and Desiree Dadang (eight points spiked by five blocks and two aces) also did their share in propelling the team to victory.

“Gusto ko lang makita ang mga bata na maglaro (I just wanted to see them play) with confidence because we knew we can take on La Salle,” said Gorayeb.

“Maganda lahat nilaro ng bata. Nakakatuwa sila, yung blocking maganda, yung reception hindi ganong maganda pero maganda pa rin kumpara sa dati (The girls played well in every aspect, especially blocking. Reception still needs improvement but still better than the previous game),” he added,

NU lorded it in spiking, 40 versus 32 and had two more blocks at 11 and made 21 excellent receptions throughout.

Gorayeb said it was NU’s first victory over La Salle in seven years, an achievement that could serve them well in the rubber match.

“Common sense dictates na by Saturday, full of confidence ang mga bata, especially since first time nila tinalo ang La Salle since 2008,” he said.

Ara Galang (14) led the way for La Salle, which is seeking its seventh straight finals appearance.

Meanwhile, Espejo dropped 28 kills and had two aces and eight digs in an MVP-esque performance to help the top-ranked Blue Eagles get the headstart in the race-to-two affair and on the verge of history. They gun for the milestone crown on Saturday.

“Nakapaconsistent iyang si Marck sa loob, pag nagkakamali ng isa, may balik agad (Especjo is a steady force inside; whenever he commits a mistake, he quickly makes up for it) so that’s the character of a true MVP. He doesn’t give up offensively and defensively,” said coach Oliver Almadra.