MANILA, Philippines – The National University Lady Bulldogs needed only two games to take home the PVL Collegiate Conference women’s division championship after dispatching the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 25-16, in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals clash at the Arena in San Juan Saturday, Oct. 14. 

Trailing 9-10 in the fourth set, the Lady Bulldogs rode on a 12-2 run, 3 points coming from Jorelle Singh, to take a 9-point lead, 21-12. 

FEU showed signs of life by scoring 3 straight points but it was not enough as NU ended the game with a 4-1 spurt, capped by an Aiko Urdas kill. 

NU also defeated FEU in 4 sets in Game 1, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 26-24.

This is the third straight year the Lady Bulldogs won the Collegiate Conference championship as they reigned supreme in the past two seasons of the league formerly known as the Shakey’s V-League. 

Conference Most Valuable Player Jaja Santiago showed way for the Lady Bulldogs with 22 points, 19 coming from attacks and 3 coming from aces, while Singh and Urdas chipped in 11 and 10, respectively.

Jasmine Nabor, who averaged 6 points and 45.5 excellent sets in the championship series, was hailed the finals MVP.

“Unexpected palagi kasi ang daming pinagdadaanan ng team namin. Bumabalik kami palagi sa rebuilding stage pero kahit na ganoon, nakita ko na tumitibay at laging lumalakas ‘yung team namin,” said Santiago. “Sobrang happy ako na nanalo kami this conference.” (It is always unexpected since the team goes through a lot. We always go back to the rebuilding stage but I see that we always come back stronger. I am super happy that we won this conference.)

NU committed 37 errors but compensated by dominating FEU in the attacking department, 55-35.

The Lady Bulldogs had the chance to end the game via sweep as they led by a point in the third set, 15-14, until the Lady Tamaraws unloaded a 7-0 run to take the lead and pull away for good.

Jeanette Villareal and Czarina Carandang paced FEU with 10 points apiece while Marianne Marie Calinawan added 9 in the loss. – Rappler.com