Four-peat-seeking National University went through the wringer before outlasting a pesky Adamson University side missing a key player, 29-31, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 15-10, to start the second round of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs had to fight back from a 1-2 match deficit and grind it out in the fifth set of the thrilling Pool E encounter that took two hours and 36 minutes to be decided.
NU extended its winning run to four after surviving the Lady Falcons’ Nigerian winger Frances Mordi’s 27-point explosion in its first-ever five-setter in the tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
Sophomore Celine Marsh led the way for the SSL National Invitationals Davao Leg champion with 19 points coming from 15 kills, three kill blocks and an ace.
NU, which squandered four set point advantages in the opening set, used a scorching 6-2 run in the deciding frame to finish off Adamson, which rested main gunner Shaina Nitura following a title romp in another league on Friday.
“Biggest challenge ng team namin is kapag nasa dulo na kami we still need to stay composed and hindi nagmamadali. That was our problem sa set one,” Marsh said.
Alex Mata had 16 points, veteran Vange Alinsug added 14 while Chams Maaya blasted 10 markers in the Lady Bulldogs’ much-awaited payback win over their UAAP Season 87 second round tormentor. Decorated setter Lams Lamina dished out 23 excellent sets while Shaira Jardio got 12 digs and 16 excellent receptions for NU.
“Ang motivation ko lang was ‘yung redemption namin sa loss namin (sa Adamson) nu’ng UAAP. Yung ang nasa utak ko. So, teamwork lang talaga yung ginawa namin sa loob,” Marsh said.
NU raced to a 9-6 lead in the fifth set but allowed Adamson to answer with back-to-back hits from Lana Barrera and Lhouriz Tuddao.
A costly Barrera service error gave the Lady Bulldogs an opening to ignite a 5-1 run to reach match point, 14-9, after Marsh shut the door on Abegail Segui’s attack. Mordi saved a point before Mata hammered the finishing blow.
NU battles University of the Philippines on Sunday at 12 p.m. for a chance to boost its chances of clinching a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage 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.
Barrera scored 17 points to back Mordi, who got 26 of her markers from attacks, while Tuddao had 10 markers in a lost cause for the National Invitationals Cebu Leg winner.
The Lady Falcons seek to rebound against Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
