NU Woman Bulldogs full a 3rd straight title run within the Shakey’s Tremendous League Pre-season Championship after beating La Salle Woman Spikers. –SSL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — An rising dynasty group within the collegiate volleyball scene and a Grand Slam coach within the professionals proved to be a match made in heaven.
In coach Sherwin Meneses’ first native stint again on the collegiate stage, Nationwide College accomplished a historic ‘three-peat’ within the Shakey’s Tremendous League Pre-season Championship after sweeping La Salle, 23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-20, in Finals Recreation 2 on Sunday evening at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
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The Woman Bulldogs, led by the MVP tandem of Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen, additionally captured a sweep of the 2024 SSL season, pairing the Pre-season title with the Nationwide Invitationals crown again in July.
READ: Sherwin Meneses’ expertise, information bolster intact NU Woman Bulldogs
3PEAT COMPLETE AND A 2024 SEASON SWEEP!#ShakeysSuperLeague2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ZCQPHnvCgF
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) November 24, 2024
Meneses, who was tapped by NU as its new ladies’s volleyball coach final August, made an instantaneous impression bolstering the profitable tradition of the Woman Bulldogs along with his personal system constructed within the PVL with the Creamline Cool Smashers, who not too long ago swept three conferences within the 2024 season.
“Grateful ako palagi sa Itaas na binibigyan kami ng championship na ganito, ‘yung expertise na mapanalo ‘yung isang group. Hopefully, madagdagan pa,” mentioned Meneses, who got here from an out-of-town sport from Ilocos Sur lower than 24 hours in the past.
“Talagang trinabaho lang namin ‘yung dalawang groups. Talagang tinatrabaho lang din ng mga gamers. Magaganda ‘yung samahan. Nagtutulungan ‘yung gamers at coaches. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaka-importante.”
Anticipating La Salle to struggle again, the brand new NU coach urged his wards to remain hungry regardless of the 25-16, 25-12, 27-25 win in Recreation 1 two days in the past.
True sufficient, Belen, Solomon, and Co. got here out quick within the first set as they wanted to erase a 20-23 deficit. Shevana Laput, nonetheless, introduced the Woman Spikers at set level adopted by Lilay Del Castillo’s frame-clinching block.
READ: NU Woman Bulldogs sweep their method to Tremendous League title anew
The reigning UAAP champions stayed composed with their second unit setting the tone to bounce again in Set 2 and finally dominating the third with an 18-6 unfold off Vange Alinsug’s ace to inch a body nearer to a championship with a 2-1 lead.
NU Woman Bulldogs’ Bella Belen. –HANDOUT PHOTO
NU carried the momentum within the fourth with a 18-12 lead from Belen’s back-to-back hits. Solomon stretched the benefit to 23-16 however La Salle scored three straight factors off Alinsug’s two consecutive assault errors.
Amie Provido dedicated a vital service error that put NU at championship level, 24-19. Angel Canino saved some extent earlier than Alinsug drilled the game-winning kill.
READ: UAAP: With intact core, NU Woman Bulldogs look to remain contenders
La Salle swept its method to the finals, profitable all of its eight matches solely to accept a runner-up end with two consecutive losses to NU, its 2022 championship tormentor.
Solomon, a two-time league MVP, completed with a game-high 19 factors, all from her 34 assault makes an attempt to finish a candy revenge on La Salle, which ended their 28-game unbeaten run relationship again to 2022 within the second spherical of the convention.
Belen gained her second SSL MVP this 12 months — her first Preseason championship –, following her Nationwide Invitationals crown as she delivered one other well-rounded sport with 15 factors off 12 kills, two blocks, and an ace, as Alinsug completed with 10 factors together with two aces.
“I’m very blissful kasi nakamit namin yung purpose namin for Shakey’s kasi isa rin na to para magiging stepping stone namin, preparation namin for the upcoming UAAP Season,” mentioned Belen. “I’m very blissful na nagawa ng group kung ano yung dapat gawin, sumunod lang yung pagkapanalo.”
For Belen and their new coach, their ‘three-peat’ success shouldn’t cease them from being hungrier as their final purpose is a profitable title protection within the UAAP Season 87 early subsequent 12 months.
“Siyempre sobrang excited din ako na nanalo kami. Malaking tulong talaga ‘to sa preparation for UAAP. ‘Yun naman talaga ‘yung purpose kaya sumali kami dito,” Meneses mentioned.
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The Woman Spikers gave up 35 errors with nobody scoring in double figures.
Canino was the highest performer with 9 factors. Alleiah Malaluan, who introduced some spark for La Salle, had eight factors. Del Castillo scored seven, as Shevana Laput, one in every of their most important weapons, was restricted to simply six.
