ONE of Philippine volleyball’s most promising young players in Rhose Almendralejo has committed to join National University.
The multi-awarded Bacolod Tay Tung standout formalized her forthcoming entry to Jhoscon, albeit two years from now, with school officials on Thursday.
Almendralejo’s current coach Jose Montalbo shared photos of their meeting that sealed Almendralejo’s future with the Lady Bulldogs.
Still a Grade 10 student, the 16-year-old Visayan ace racked up a hat-trick of individual nods at the Palarong Pambansa earlier this year, including best outside hitter, best scorer and best server.
She was also the best outside hitter in the 2025 Shakey's Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL).
The MVP of that competition in Sam Cantada also a highly-touted ace like Almendralejo, is already part of NU-Nazareth High School and will soon team up with the Bacolod ace to lead the new era of National U volleyball.
Also committing to join NU is her teammate and setter Abigail Labajo, who once won top playmaking honors in the 2024 Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals.
Securing two blue-chip recruits in Almendralejo and Cantada made National U’s frontline airtight and ready to go for the long term as it begins its post-Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon era.
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