VICTORY at last.
National University had the last laugh over defending champion La Salle, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-22, for its fifth straight win in UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Vange Alinsug cut the Taft towers down to size with 22 points on 20 attacks, one block and one ace to help snap the Lady Bulldogs’ five-game skid to the Lady Spikers since the opening round of Season 85.
READ: UST, La Salle, NU in tight race for twice-to-beat spots. See SCENARIOS
With such a result, NU drew level with league-leading University of Sto. Tomas at 10-2 (win-loss) and sent La Salle down to 9-2 as both title contenders still have two prelims matches to play before the Final Four.
"We’re very happy nga po kasi 'di pa kami nanalo sa kanila simula last season. So 'yung mindset talaga namin is matalo sila ngayon at manalo kami ngayon na kailangang gawin namin yung best namin kasi hindi siya magiging madali, kasi champion team 'yung La Salle.
"Gusto rin nilang manalo pero dapat mas gusto naming manalo," said Bella Belen with 14 attack points after her career-worst two-point game versus Ateneo on Wednesday.
Alyssa Solomon made it a hattrick of double-digit scorers for the Lady Bulldogs with 13 markers as ace libero Shaira Jardio manned the floor with 12 digs and 12 receptions.
Sans Angel Canino for the third game running, the defending champions had the upper hand in the opening set through a 9-3 run and an error-plagued NU meltdown but took the driver's seat from there onwards and never looked back.
And taking her place as La Salle's go-to scorer was Shevana Laput, who paced the Lady Spikers' second defeat of the season with 21 attack points.
Still to come for the Lady Bulldogs, who have inside track on a twice-to-beat advantage, are also-ran Adamson and Final Four-bound Far Eastern University.
Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers look to turn their fortunes around against Adamson, Ateneo and a prelims finale showdown with UST.
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