BOOSTED by several former ace spikers from its juniors’ team, National University moved within two victories of reaching the Promised Land for the first time in six decades yesterday.
The Lady Bulldogs humbled gritty University of Santo Tomas 25-22, 29-27, 25-17 to complete an elimination round sweep and gain an outright finals slot in the 84th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Skipper Princess Robles led the way for NU with 13 points, while Mhicaela Belen had 12 markers, 21 excellent receptions, and 11 excellent digs.
Alyssa Solomon and Sheena Toring also had 11 for the Lady Bulldogs, who became only the fourth team in the Final Four era to post a 14-match elimination sweep after La Salle in Seasons 66 and 76 and Ateneo in Season 77.
NU’s win also denied the Golden Tigresses a playoff for the second seed against La Salle.
Earlier, Adamson University stunned La Salle 25-23, 17-25, 25-16, 26-24 to keep alive its Final Four hopes.
The Lady Falcons, who finished with an 8-6 slate, were hoping for defending champion Ateneo to lose to the also-ran Fighting Maroons in their tiff being played at press time to forge a playoff for the last spot in the semis.
The Lady Spikers wound up with a 10-4 card.
In the first match, University of the East averted a winless season with a 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21 win over Far Eastern University.
“Sobrang masaya and thankful sa players. Iyong feeling ko kasi before, siguro na-translate ko sa team kasi noong Season 71 noong player ako, na-feel ko rin iyong ganito na maka-sweep so sobrang saya na ngayon coach naman ako,” NU coach Karl Dimaculangan said.
“Iyong challenge talaga ng UST sobrang lumaban rin talaga sila. Na-pwersa rin kami na tumodo rin kami sa kanila and sinabi ko sa kanila na mahirap talaga, kailangan trabahuhin natin point by point,”
