Lady Bulldogs eye first-round sweep against Lady Falcons

Games on Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. – NU vs Adamson (men)
11 a.m. – Ateneo vs La Salle (men)
1 p.m. – NU vs Adamson (women)
3 p.m. – Ateneo vs La Salle (women)

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY tries to zero in on a first-round sweep against Adamson University while Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University rekindle their rivalry in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 1 p.m. featuring the NU Lady Bulldogs’ 6-0 bid opposite the AdU Lady Falcons (2-3) before the duel between the DLSU Lady Spikers (3-2) and the ADMU Blue Eagles (1-4) at 3 p.m. Also on deck are the men’s duels of NU-Adamson at 9 a.m. and Ateneo-La Salle at 11 a.m.

The Lady Spikers have won their 14 straight games over the rebuilding and crippled Blue Eagles in a lopsided rivalry since 2017, making them a heavy favorite once more in a mission to stay in the Top 4.

But the league belongs to NU, which has shored up its bid for a back-to-back title and third in the last four seasons with five straight wins to take the pole position with ease.

Against Adamson, there’s no stepping in the gas for reigning MVP Bella Belen who’ll be up against another Rookie-MVP contender Shaina Nitura, ahead of a highly-anticipated finals rematch with Angge Poyos and University of Santo Tomas this weekend.

Ms. Nitura, the juniors MVP who anchored Adamson to a 14-0 sweep for the school’s first girls’ volleyball title last year, smashed the UAAP rookie record with 33 points in her winning debut but Adamson since then has lost three of its last four games.

That was despite Ms. Nitura scoring double digits in every game.

“Volleyball is a team effort and there’s great capability of Adamson as a team. Don’t be too harsh on herself,” said Ms. Belen, pointing to the massive difference in high school and collegiate volleyball play, as Ms. Nitura enters a transition stage along with her young squad.

That team effort definitely will be the edge for NU, featuring an intact championship core also led by Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug, against the youthful Adamson unit.

“Teamwork wins games. Knowing Adamson, they have a blue-chip player in Ms. Nitura so we will be ready for Adamson,” said NU mentor Sherwin Meneses, a former Adamson player and head coach. — John Bryan Ulanday