‘NU’ contest.
National U blew title rival La Salle out the water to begin its championship defense with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 sweep, Sunday in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Taft’s towers gave it a proper go in the first two sets before the defending champions pulled away and played spoiler to veteran coach Ramil de Jesus’ first act in his 28th UAAP season.
Lams Lamina activated NU's deep scoring core fronted by reigning MVP Bella Belen and finals MVP Alyssa Solomon with 20 excellent sets.
Belen dropped 14 points and six receptions. Solomon fired 13. New season, same old dominance.
With that, the Lady Bulldogs broke their head-to-head deadlock with their sixth win in 11 meetings with the Lady Spikers since their first finals face-off three years ago in Season 84.
Lady Spikers junior Shevana Laput took over on all fronts for La Salle as she paced the defeat in 18 points along with former MVP Angel Canino's seven markers and 13 receptions.
It's a NU day
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It was also much-welcome bounce back win for Sherwin Meneses, who won his UAAP coaching debut less than 24 hours since a crushing five-set loss for Creamline against PLDT in Antipolo.
Playing a La Salle team which bred a few of the PLDT stars that took Meneses' Cool Smashers down was both an exciting and nervy experience for the debuting champion mentor.
"Nu'ng una, excited talaga. Siyempre La Salle 'yung makakalaban namin. Second, happy talaga ako kasi siyempre three straight sets ka nanalo and siyempre 'yung mga players, talagang nagre-respond kapag kinakausap mo.
"Masayang masaya ako sa first game ko sa pagbalik ko sa UAAP. 'Yung mga veteran players namin talagang nag-trabaho ngayon. Gustong-gusto nila talaga nilang manalo."
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