THIRD time’s a charm for National University Nazareth School, which copped the elusive 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 championship last Saturday.
Left empty-handed in the first two editions of the country’s biggest grassroots volleyball league backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea, the Lady Bullpups made sure the crown won’t slip their hands this time with an incredible fightback against a gritty and determined Bacolod Tay Tung side.
Behind eventual tournament MVP Sam Cantada, NUNS survived a precarious extended fourth set and displayed composure in a pressure-packed closing stretch of the decider to pull off a thrilling 27-25, 16-25, 21-25, 30-28, 15-13 gold medal match victory at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
The Lady Bullpups’ tournament sweep completed the school’s amazing ‘grand slam’ following its UAAP and Palarong Pambansa conquests, which cemented NUNS’ reputation as one of the most successful, if not the most accomplished, girls’ volleyball programs in the country today.
“Aminado naman ako na mas sweeter siya kasi una ilan yung graduating players namin. So thankful ako sa kanila na nag-exit sila na champion sa mga last tournament namin,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Karl Dimaculangan, who also called the shots for the NU Lady Bulldogs’ first of three straight centerpiece Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship titles back in 2022.
The dream finale, a rematch of the protagonists of the Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte over a week ago, was truly a memorable encounter. It was the only championship match in the league backed by Mikasa, Asics, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, and Smart that went into five sets.
NUNS saved a match point in the fourth set to bring the match to the full distance before hanging on in a battle of nerves in the fifth frame as the Thunderbolts crumbled under pressure with costly back-to-back errors.
“Isang factor ay ‘yung pagod na rin. For almost two weeks same with Tay Tung, na two weeks diri-diretso ang game, talagang ‘yung puso na lang ng mga players (ang lumabas) para manalo,” Dimaculangan said.
Bacolod Tay Tung ace Rhose Almendralejo, who recorded a tournament-best 35 points in the final, was feted as Best Outside Hitter while her teammates Amor Bartolome (Best Middle Blocker), Jan Rose Bulak (Best Setter) and Rhea Tomas (Best Libero) also received individual honors. NUNS’ Harlyn Serneche won Best Opposite Hitter.
