Games Today
(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
1 p.m. – UST vs FEU
5 p.m. – NU vs La Salle
Defending champion National University goes for the jugular to extend its reign to a third straight season against La Salle in Game 2 of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship finals Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Beaming with confidence after a dominating sweep of the erstwhile unbeaten Lady Spikers in Game 1, the Lady Bulldogs are laser-focused on closing out the best-of-three series at 5 p.m.
NU showed composure in the challenging third set to turn back its second round tormentor, 25-16, 25-12, 27-25, last Friday to inch closer to completing a grand slam following its conquest of the National Invitationals in the league supported by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea, Grab Philippines, and Summit Water.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Alyssa Solomon led the way and got solid support from seasoned wingers Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug in halting La Salle’s eight-game romp.
However, the job is far from being done for the Lady Bulldogs as they brace for tougher resistance from the Lady Spikers, who are out to drag the series to a winner-take-all Game 3.
“Siyempre excited kasi makakaharap ulit namin sila and siyempre babawi talaga ‘yan. Hindi sila papayag na matalo na lang. Magri-ready kami for them na magiging better pa kami sa ipinakita namin today (Game 1),” said
Solomon, who scored seven of her game-high 14 points in the extended third set.
La Salle, installed as a heavy favorite to challenge NU’s domination in its return after taking a leave of absence last year, gave the Lady Bulldogs a scare late in the third set as it rallied from a seven-point deficit to eventually move at set point, 24-23.
NU regained control to foil La Salle’s comeback attempt in the first game of the finals rematch of the same protagonists who figured in the inaugural edition’s one-game championship two years ago.
Knowing very well the championship pedigree of the Lady Spikers, who ruled the 2023 National Invitationals, the Lady Bulldogs vow not to lower their guard to hand new mentor Sherwin Meneses his first title with the squad.
