Composed NU rises in 5-set comeback thriller past gutsy UST, sweeps 1st round at 7-0
MANILA, Philippines – A true champion goes through all kinds of challenges to prove it can overcome them with flying colors, and that is exactly what reigning UAAP women’s volleyball champion NU did as it rallied to a five-set comeback win over rival UST, 23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 15-9, on Sunday, March 16.
In front of 15,100 fans at the packed Araneta Coliseum, former UAAP Best Setter Lams Lamina outmaneuvered reigning top playmaker Cassie Carballo in a battle of floor generals with a massive line of 33 excellent sets, while Carballo was no slouch in the loss with 10 points on top of 27 excellent sets.
Alyssa Solomon, in her first game since withdrawing from the Korean Volleyball Federation Asian Quota draft to safeguard her amateur status, stayed on point with a game-high 24 points on 21 attacks and 3 blocks as NU swept the eliminations’ first round at 7-0.
Reigning two-time MVP Bella Belen once again showcased her all-around prowess with a big triple-double of 19 points, 17 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions, while Vange Alinsug and Erin Pangilinan scored 17 and 12, respectively.
Rolling to a quick 3-0 lead at the turn of the fifth and final set, NU kept its comfortable cushion at change-court point, 8-5, before Belen ended the match’s longest and most exhilarating rally with a crafty off-speed shot, 9-5, to essentially deflate what little fight UST had left in crunch time.
Sure enough, the bottom fell out of the Golden Tigresses soon enough as Carballo shot herself in the foot with a costly double contact call that pushed the Lady Bulldogs practically out of reach at 11-5 and never looked back.
Reg Jurado paced the sorry loss that snapped a five-game winning streak towards a 5-2 slate, still at second place, with 16 points, backstopped by 13 on a checked 12-of-56 attack clip from Angge Poyos. – Rappler.com