IT took four conferences in a span of two years, but NU's 28-game win streak in the Shakey's Super League (SSL) has come to an end.
A rookie-laden La Salle side dealt the dagger on the defending UAAP and SSL champions, 32-30, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21, in the second preliminary round of the Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
An unsung hero in Taft rookie Mary Shane Reterta doused a late NU comeback in the fourth frame through a game-sealing service ace.
READ: CSB Lady Blazers sweep Baste, catch last bus to SSL playoffs
The rebuilding Lady Spikers weren't deterred by their underdog tags as third-year stars Angel Canino and Shevana Laput had just enough firepower on offense to outlast their modern-day rivals.
The former UAAP MVP, who produced a game-high 20 points (12 in Set 1) built on 18 attacks and two aces, beamed with pride as the young Taft towers overcame the magnitude of such a tall order to cut the intact Lady Bulldogs down to size.
"Siyempre, sobrang proud. 'Yung NU, malaking team sila sa UAAP na kailangan i-watch out din talaga so confidence-booster din talaga 'to," Canino said.
Laput went on a nine-point tear in Set 4 to complete her 18-piece in a historic victory that stretched La Salle's unbeaten SSL run this conference to four.
Not enough steam
NU's 'Big Three' showed no signs of slowing down halfway through the contest even after falling ever-so short in an extended opening frame.
Alyssa Solomon showed the way for the three-peat-seeking NU with 18 markers, backed by 13-point outputs from Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug.
But come the homestretch, the Canino-Laput duo proved too much upon firing 15 combined points in the game-clinching set.
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