NATIONAL University flexed its championship pedigree against undermanned University of Sto. Tomas, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20, in Game One of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals on Saturday before a 20,955-strong crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Alyssa Solomon took matters into her own hands with a game-high 17 points on 14 attacks and three blocks, moving the top-seeded Lady Bulldogs on the cusp of a second UAAP championship in three seasons.
READ UST Tigresses hold breath as Angge Poyos limps off with ankle injury
Game Two of the best-of-three finals is on Wednesday.
"For Game 2, kailangan hindi kami makampante at isipin namin na siyempre UST ‘yan, palaban yung team na ‘yan. Kailangan yung mindset namin is tatapusin na namin sa Game 2 katulad nu'ng sa do-or-die (versus FEU) at 'di na namin paabutin ng do-or-die pa, ‘wag na kami maghanap ng challenge," said Bella Belen who fired 13 attacks and eight digs.
"Hangga't kaya naming tapusin ng Game 2, tapusin namin," she added.
NU showed no mercy on both ends as Belen and Solomon paraded their lethal one-two punch that has steered the Lady Bulldogs' re-emergence for the last three seasons.
Sheena Toring, who was hurt in Game One of last year's finals, had her moment of redemption with 10 points on six attacks, three blocks and one ace.
A huge step-up performance from Vange Alinsug (12 points) laid the finishing touches in a decisive series-opening win.
The Tigresses, on the other hand, found themselves backed against the wall trailing 0-1 and uncertain on the availability of star spiker Angge Poyos, who suffered a right ankle injury in Set 2 and never returned. She had seven points in roughly one-and-a-half sets played prior to her injury.
Stepping up in Poyos' abrupt exit was another outside hitter in Jonna Perdido with 17 points built on 15 attacks, one block and one ace.
As per Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes, Poyos will undergo a series of X-ray tests and further assessments back in UST as her Game Two playing status remains uncertain.
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