ONCE National U’s super seniors leave the Lady Bulldogs’ den by season’s end, among those left standing at the forefront of the champions’ future is 22-year-old winger Vange Alinsug.
Her playful and humorous demeanor off the taraflex might be a sign of naivety to some, but make no mistake about it, she's soaking everything in from her 'ates' - taking everything she can learn from them while they're still together in one team.
One of those attributes was bravery, something that was on full display as National U weathered an 0-2 set deficit to eliminate Far Eastern University through a 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15 five-set comeback in the Final Four.
READ: NU aces tough test by hard-charging FEU, advances to fourth straight finals
The way Alinsug describes it, the character that the team has shown especially during struggles is something embedded onto her by her teammates.
“‘Yung sa’kin talaga, ‘yung pagiging palaban na hindi titigil at hindi matatapos [lumaban] hanggang manalo. I-adapt lang namin ‘yun lahat sa isa’t isa and patuloy lang din talagang paghihirapan pa sa bawat ensayo,” Alinsug told SPIN.ph.
“Dadalhin ko ‘yun sa teammates ko kung paano maglaro nang matapang at palaban.”
The rise of a dynasty
Once Season 87 comes to a close, the likes of Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring will be riding off the sunset following a decorated UAAP career which started in their NU-Nazareth days.
It might be the end of National U’s golden days for some once they bid Jhocson goodbye.
But for Alinsug, without a shadow of a doubt, the Lady Bulldogs are only getting started.
“Big help ‘to sa’kin ngayon na last appearance na kasama sina ate Bels [Belen] sa finals. Marami akong natutunan na lessons sa kanila, especially kung paano maging matapang sa court,” Alinsug said.
“Hindi naman du’n magtatapos [‘yung NU] kapag nawala na sila. Marami pang papasok at maa-adapt din nila ‘yun.”
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