AT least in the preseason, National University has already shown it can still win titles without the longtime pillars of its women’s volleyball program in Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
The Lady Bulldogs completed a two-game sweep of University of Santo Tomas to secure a four-peat in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup.
READ: National U takes fourth straight SSL title in five sets over UST
It was one of NU’s first proper tastes of competition against its upcoming UAAP rivals, highlighted by Regine Diego’s head coaching debut, the arrival of reigning juniors MVP Sam Cantada and the shared leadership of champion aces Vange Alinsug and Lams Lamina.
Question is, can NU take this 'rebuild' to the next level and bag a UAAP three-peat come Season 88 early next year?
Here’s what they had to say.
LAMINA: ‘Ready na kami’
The newly crowned SSL MVP and Best Setter isn’t shying away from added attention and expectations now that the Belen-Solomon era has passed.
“First of all, medyo pressured ako kasi kami na lang ‘yung mga naiiwan dito, ‘yung mga seniors namin umalis na rin,” Lamina said.
But above all, she’s convinced that this younger NU squad is more than capable of chasing the elusive UAAP three-peat.
“Ready na kami kasi nakita niyo naman po, nanalo kami dito [sa Shakey’s Super League] ng four-peat. Halos ‘yung mga bata talaga ‘yung naglaro sa loob ng court,” she added.
“Hindi kami titigil dito kasi preseason pa lang ‘to at may UAAP pa kami. Kailangan pa naming magtrabaho.”
For the Alas Pilipinas playmaker, NU may look different personnel-wise, but the culture remains intact.
“Sinasabi ko lang sa [mga bata] na ‘wag silang titigil kasi hindi porket nawala ‘yung mga ate, wala tayong gagawin. Ni-reremind namin sila na ga-guide lang namin kayo, gawin niyo ‘yung best niyo palagi dahil nandito lang kami,” Lamina said.
“Lahat ng mga bata nag-sstep-up at nagtitiwala sa’min kaya happy talaga ako.”
ALINSUG: ‘May mapapatunayan pa kami’
If there’s ever a time NU needs its “next woman up” mentality, it’s now.
As she takes on a senior leadership role, Alinsug knows transitioning from follower to anchor won’t be easy — but it’s necessary.
“Sobrang challenging po siya sa’kin. Sa tatlong taon na ‘yun, bata lang ako na sumusunod. Ngayon, ako na ‘yung inaasahan,” said Alinsug.
“Sobrang emotional talaga ako kasi wala na ‘yung mga ates namin — wala na sina ate Bel, ate Sheena, ate Erin. Kumbaga, kami na ‘to.”
Outside chatter questioning NU’s future hasn’t gone unnoticed. But if there’s anything the past few UAAP seasons have taught the Lady Bulldogs, it’s that their identity is built on proving something every single time.
“Alam namin na maraming nagda-doubt sa’min kasi rebuilding kami and naging testimony sa’min ‘tong [SSL title],” she said.
“Magandang motivation po sa’min ‘to na may mapapatunayan pa kami. Hindi pa dito nagtatapos dahil ‘yung main goal is mag-three-peat sa UAAP.”
CANTADA: ‘Hindi lang po dapat [aasa sa] isa’
The new kid on Jhocson’s block isn’t exactly new to winning. At just 18, Cantada has starred in high school, the Palarong Pambansa, and even with the U17 World Championship-bound Alas Pilipinas Girls.
But in NU’s UAAP three-peat mission, she knows she won’t — and shouldn’t — be the only one carrying the scoring load.
“Lahat po kami, hindi lang po dapat isa ‘yung mag-fifill in sa mga nawalang players. Dapat po lahat kami mag-step up,” Cantada said.
“Lahat po dapat kami. Wala pong isa lang.”
She admits there’s pressure to uphold the standard set by Belen and Solomon, but a confident Cantada is banking on collective effort to realize National U's golden aspirations for the third year running.
“Hindi pa rin po kami titigil at pagtatrabahuan pa rin po namin. Ngayong nalalaman na nila kung paano kami maglaro, mas pag-aaralan po kami and mas dapat eager po kami mag-improve,” she said.
“Pagdating ng UAAP, hindi man pulido agad, pero at least may improvements na po kami.”
DIEGO: ‘You’ll get to see more of us’
Just months after taking over from champion coach Sherwin Meneses, Regine Diego already carries the responsibility of sustaining NU’s championship culture.
While she’s checked that box in the SSL, nothing is guaranteed in the UAAP. But expect the Lady Bulldogs to compete with the same identity that has defined their rise.
“Hopefully, you’ll get to see more of us in the future and we can defend our title, not just here but also in the UAAP,” Diego said.
“I just want the best for these girls. Every win is for them, the NU community, and everyone supporting us.”
One of her first tasks was aligning expectations and setting big-picture goals in life without their go-to veteran stars.
“From the start, I told them na because maraming nawala, we have to do this together and we have to work as a team now. Significant ‘yung mga nawala,” she said.
“We have to fill in those shoes, but to get there, we have to grow together. We have to be a team. Last time, individually, malalakas talaga. This time, we can do this as a team — and that will help us defend the title.”
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