HEAVY is the head that wears the crown and the Lady Bulldogs of reigning champion National University know they would have a hard time keeping the diadem in the coming best-of-three finals of the 87th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
Last Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs returned to the championship series set to begin on May 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, eyeing their first back-to-back titles in the league.
At the historic Big Dome, the Bella Belen-captained National U averted disaster, turning back the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the semifinals 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15.
The Sampaloc-based crew will revive their rivalry with the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, who eliminated last year’s runner-up University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses 25-22, 11-25, 25-21, 25-21 in the Final Four.
“Thankful akosa mga players kasinagre-respond silasa mga situations nasinasabinamin. Perosabikongasakanilahindi pa taposanglabankasiang goal talaga is ma-defend iyong crown.” NU mentor Sherwin Meneses said.
“So, konting enjoy, kontilang, then, trabahoulit para ma-defend iyong crown. Iyoniyongpinaka-target talaga.”
This will be the veteran tactician’s first Finals appearance in the UAAP, but he is no stranger to championship matches, having steered the Creamline Cool Smashers to many titles in the Premier Volleyball League.
The Lady Bulldogs will rely on veterans Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Camilla Lamina, Erin Pangilinan and VangeAlinsug in their bid to win NU’s fifth overall title.
“Iyong advantage ng seniors nasaaminperosabikongasakanila is kailanganmalagpasannatiniyong one week nating preparation na less injury, less namadisgrasyakahitpapaano. Dapat healthy kami pagpasok ng finals para mas malaki ‘yung chances na ma-defend ‘yung crown,” said Meneses.
