NATIONAL University is out to wield the big broom on La Salle and end a 65-year title dry spell.
To complete a historic season sweep that only La Salle in 2004 and Ateneo in 2015 have managed to pull off, coach Karl Dimaculangan, only in his first year calling the shots for the squad, said his belles need to continue doing things that gave them tremendous success this season.
“Itutuloy lang namin iyong ginagawa namin, iyong energy namin, focus namin sa game, iyong sistema namin itutuloy lang namin,” Dimaculangan said.
“Kung ano ang preparation namin, so execution na lang kami palagi. Ang mindset din ng mga players is ready naman sila, so iyon lang,” he added.
The Lady Bulldogs seek the crown when they battle the Lady Spikers today in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals duel in the 84th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The match is set at 6:30 p.m., with NU aching to bag its first tiara since 1957, while La Salle is keen on forging a knockout game for all the marbles.
A deciding Game 3, if necessary, will be on Thursday at the same venue.
The Lady Bulldogs clobbered the Lady Spikers 25-20, 25-12, 25-21 three days ago in Game 1 of the race-to-2 series.
The league will also fete its top individual players during the awarding ceremonies before the game, with NU ace outside hitter Mhicaela Belen a strong contender to be the first-ever Rookie of the Year and MVP winner in women’s play.
“Well, ako po kasi naglalaro lang po ako, kasi ang goal po talaga namin is mag-champion po this season, hindi po talaga iyong individual awards,” Belen said.
“Siguro po kung magkakaroon po man kami ngayon, siguro po malaking buenas po sa amin kasi nagtratrabaho po kami as a team, so iyon ay parang extra trophy na lang sa mga hardwork na ginagawa po namin.”
Aside from Belen, the Sampaloc-based spikers will also rely on skipper Princess Robles, Alyssa Solomon, Ivy Lacsina, Sheena Toring, setter Camille Lamina, and libero Jen Nierva in their bid to reach the Promised Land.
Alleiah Malaluan, Leila Cruz, Fifi Sharma, and Jolina Dela Cruz will be counted upon by La Salle.
