By MARK REY MONTEJO
Defending champion National University and La Salle are out to produce a bulk of sweet memories when they start their UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finals trilogy on Sunday, May 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Match is at 5 p.m. before an anticipated massive crowd with both teams seeking to draw the first blood in the best-of-three championship series that is likely to create magical moments and break some existing records – gate attendance in particular.
This would be the third time in four years that the two squads are dueling for the crown, and the first since 2023, making this season’s Final a must-see as both teams promised to give it their all and make their respective supporters very happy.
They first battled in 2022 with NU winning the crown in style with a grand 16-game sweep, before La Salle bounced back big time the following year.
The Lady Bulldogs regained their bearings in 2024 by ousting the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the Final Four before reclaiming the crown at the expense of University of Santo Tomas.
A lot may have changed over the past years, but expect former MVPs Bella Belen and Angel Canino to play with a heart of champion as they continue their much-hyped swagfest that delighted their fans.
Retaining the title would be a fitting swan song for Belen as NU also banks on the guidance of head coach Sherwin Meneses, who is in his first UAAP finals appearance.
Belen, along with Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan, posed proudly and excitedly during their graduation ceremony, an event of their lives that will impact to how they are going to perform in the finals.
But the team’s success – whether their fans would agree – would depend on how
Alyssa Solomon, Vange Alinsug, and Lams Lamina could contribute against a team they swept in the elims.
But Canino would not be alone in La Salle’s war against NU.
Also determined to rise and shine on this mission are Shevana Laput, Alleiah Malaluan, and Amie Provido.
Coach Ramil de Jesus, who guided the school to 12 titles and eight runner-up finishes, however, is aware of NU’s strong chemistry.
“Since high school, makakasama na yang mga yan. Siguro samin, kailangan paghandaan namin,” said De Jesus.
“Kung siguro mailalabas nila yung ini-expect ko sa kanila at makasabay kami at magkakaroon ng chance, malaki yung chance,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NU Bulldogs guns for a five-peat when it starts its finals matchup against top seed Far Eastern University Tamaraws at 1 p.m. in the men’s division.
The Bulldogs are in their 10th straight finals stint while the Tamaraws, the winningest school in the men’s side, aims to bring back its old glory where they last won the title in 2012.
