National University allayed fears of diminished competitiveness from key departures and a sudden coaching shakeup with a dominating conquest of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup.
Seasoned holdovers Vange Alinsug, Chams Maaya, playmaker Lams Lamina and defense specialist Shaira Jardio displayed solid leadership in proving that the rebuilding Lady Bulldogs still pack the same powerful bite to complete a four-peat.
NU overcame the challenge of a strong field, punctuated by a nail-biting 22-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10, escape over gritty University of Santo Tomas in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals on Saturday for an impressive 10-game sweep of the league’s centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
The Lady Bulldogs also completed a season sweep for the second straight year after ruling the National Invitationals Davao Leg last August – a clear proof that they remain as one of the country’s top college women’s volleyball programs, if not the best.
NU passed the preseason test with flying colors, ushering in the dawn of a new breed of Lady Bulldogs following the exit of three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan after winning back-to-back UAAP titles early this year.
“Well, ‘yung start naman talaga, from the start, I told them na- because marami ‘yung nawala, we have to do this together. We have to work as a team now, because significant ‘yung mga nawala. We have to fill in those shoes, but to get there, we have to grow together ng sabay-sabay. We have to be a team,” said head coach Regine Diego after winning a title in her first run as mentor of the Lady Bulldogs since replacing Sherwin Meneses last September.
“Kasi last time, individually, malalakas talaga. This time, we can do this as a team, sabi ko, and that will help us defend the title.”
Overall, NU went 13-0 this season, including its three-game domination of the National Invitationals, where prized rookie Sam Cantada emerged as Best Player, introducing herself as the team’s newest weapon.
Cantada connived with Alinsug, Kaye Bombita and Maaya on offense in the championship series clincher, finishing with 24 points as NU replicated a come-from-behind Game 1 win that also went the full five sets.
“First of all, medyo pressured kasi kami na lang din yung naiiwan dito and yung seniors namin, ayun nga, umalis na din. Happy lang ako kasi lahat ng mga bata nag-step up and nagtitiwala sila sa amin, sa coaches namin, sa sistema, kaya ayun happy talaga ako na nakuha namin yung championship na to,” said Lamina, who was named tournament MVP and Best Setter.
Alinsug, who was given the tough task as NU skipper, expressed confidence in the current batch of Lady Bulldogs as they shift their focus to preparing for their main goal – a three-peat in the UAAP early next year.
“Sana maging lesson namin ito talaga hanggang UAAP kasi gusto naming paghugutan ito na kaya naming manalo. Alam din namin na maaraming nagda-doubt sa amin kasi rebuilding kami, and naging testimony sa amin ito,” she said.
Meanwhile, staying true to its commitment of supporting and developing women’s volleyball at the grassroots level, long-time SSL partner Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI), through its Shakey’s Pizza SSL Bundle initiative, has donated a total of P11,845,100 to all 16 participating teams.
“We hope that those amounts will help the school programs and make their teams even stronger,” SPAVI President and CEO Vic Gregorio said.
Ateneo de Manila University received the lion’s share of P1,201,925 in financial support, followed by Adamson (P1,163,275), Arellano University (P1,147,175), University of the Philippines (P862,725), Jose Rizal University (P850,375), NU (P692,925), Lyceum of the Philippines University (P689,575) and UST (P682,825).
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta got P666,725 followed by Far Eastern University (P636,125), Emilio Aguinaldo College (P597,625), San Sebastian College (P584,975), Mapua University (P576,675), Letran ((P519,425), College of Saint Benilde (P487,175) and San Beda University (P485,575).
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup, 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, are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
