La Salle back in finals after ousting NU

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

La Salle marched to the finals after eliminating NU in straight sets.

Photo by Josh Albelda

MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen down. Two to go.

Two-time defending champion De La Salle University moved two games away from completing a three-peat after ousting National University in the 75th UAAP women’s volleyball Final Four Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers proved too much for the Lady Bulldogs, pulling through with a relatively easy 25-18, 25-23, 25-18 win before more than 12, 000 fans at the Big Dome. 

La Salle started strong, wavered a bit in the second frame but ran away in the third to register their 14th straight win and return to the championship round for the fifth consecutive season.

Sophomores Ara Galang and Mika Reyes were at the center of the charge, piling up 15 and 14 points, respectively, as the Lady Spikers kept their immaculate record since December 2, 2012. 

Two more veterans finished in double figures for La Salle, who got 11 points from reigning league MVP Abi Marano and 10 markers from two-time Best Blocker Michele Gumabao.

NU kept the game close early in the first set, but the Lady Spikers began pulling away, with a crossing violation called on Aiko Urdas putting La Salle up, 20-13. 

An off-speed attack by Cai Nepomuceno trimmed the gap to 21-16 but Galang finally shut the door on the Lady Bulldogs with a kill that made it 25-18.

Back-to-back errors by Galang put NU up, 16-12, midway through the second period but the Lady Spikers slowly clawed back in an exciting windup that saw them take the driver’s seat off an error by Mina Aganon and eventually snatching the set, 25-23.

Then it was all La Salle from there.

With their opponents’ back against the wall, the Lady Spikers showed no mercy, burying the Lady Bulldogs in a 20-12 hole before foiling whatever comeback attempt NU launched to finish their opponents off in exactly 80 minutes.

Dindin Santiago scored 19 points off 16 hits and three blocks for the Lady Bulldogs but Myla Pablo and Cai Nepomuceno were huge disappointments in their last game this season.

Pablo could only record two points while Nepomuceno bade her collegiate career adieu with a measly four-point performance. – Rappler.com 

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!