National University penned a fitting ending to another perfect season after pulling off a thrilling come-from-behind, 22-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10, win over University of Santo Tomas in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals to complete a four-peat in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
With prized rookie Sam Cantada and veteran Vange Alinsug leading the charge and eventual tournament Most Valuable Player Lams Lamina orchestrating the offense, the Lady Bulldogs shocked the Tigresses once again in a match that went the full distance.
Composure and champion experience kicked in as NU carried the momentum of their strong fourth set rally for a stronger finish in the decider to extend its reign via a 10-game sweep in the league’s centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
Cantada unloaded 24 points coming from 20 kills, two aces and two kill blocks, Alinsug added 19 markers while Kaye Bombita finished with 14 points as the Lady Bulldogs completed a second straight season sweep after ruling the National Invitationals Davao Leg.
Lamina, who was also named Best Setter, and backup playmaker Abegail Pono served as NU’s backbone on offense. Lamina tallied 25 excellent sets while Pono added 26 to help the Lady Bulldogs convert 65 kills.
Shaira Jardio stepped up on the defensive end with 18 digs and 11 excellent receptions for the Lady Bulldogs, who also frustrated the Tigresses with a 15-25, 25-23, 25-17, 13-25, 15-12, escape in the series opener last week.
“We’re happy kasi nag-champion kami. Congrats din sa UST because they’ve been playing well, malakas din talaga sila. Na-gauge namin yung kaya naming gawin pa,” said first year NU head coach Regine Diego, who joined the elite club of other former champion Lady Bulldogs mentors Karl Dimaculangan, Norman Miguel and Sherwin Meneses.
“Hopefully, you get to see more of us in the future. Hopefully, we can defend our title not just here but also in the UAAP,” added Diego, whose next mission is to steer NU to a three-peat in the UAAP next year.
NU shattered a 2-2 tie in the fifth set with an 8-3 run, aided by UST’s four costly errors, to take a 10-5 advantage.
An unsuccessful net touch challenge called by the Tigresses mid-rally gave the Lady Bulldogs a 12-8 cushion. Bombita and Alinsug pushed NU at championship point, 14-9, before UST saved a point in the next play.
Tigresses middle Mary Anne Coronado crumbled under pressure and overcooked her serve as the Lady Bulldogs erupted in celebration after reigning supreme in the competition supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel-Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.
UST, which missed the services of Angge Poyos due to a sprain she suffered during practice, got 16 points from Xyza Gula, Julia Balingit had 13 while Regina Jurado posted 12 markers.
Marga Altea added 11 points in UST’s second silver haul after a runner-up finish in 2023.
Jardio bagged the Best Libero award and Jurado was named Best Opposite Spiker. Other individual award winners were Adamson University’s Shaina Nitura (1st Best Outside Spiker), Gula (2nd Best Outside Spiker), NU’s Chams Maaya (1st Best Middle Blocker) and UST’s Marga Altea (2nd Best Middle Blocker).
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
