The Lady Bulldogs finished the elimination round with a 10-4 record, clinching solo second place and avoiding complications for the first phase of the semifinals.
De La Salle University is already waiting in the Finals after a perfect 14-0 elimination round, while Adamson University holds the third seed.
“I’m very proud of them because even though we were coming from a loss and we were fatigued already from that, we pushed through this game and locked in the second rank. Very happy. Hopefully dire-diretso na po ito hanggang dulo po,” said NU head coach Regine Diego.
Meanwhile, the Golden Tigresses dropped to 8-6, now tied with the FEU Lady Tamaraws for the fourth and final semifinal spot.
It was a day of reverse sweeps, as FEU earlier pulled off a win over Ateneo (22-25, 23-25, 25-12, 25-21, 15-10) to stay in the Final Four race.
UST and FEU will dispute the No. 4 spot on Saturday at the Big Dome.
Just when UST was on the verge of sealing a semifinals berth after taking the first two sets, NU regrouped and took the next two frames with identical 25-18 scores.
In the decider, NU led 11-7 before Avril Bron and Angge Poyos sparked a four-point run to tie the game at 11-all.
Both teams traded points over the next four exchanges to move the score to 13-all, before a crucial drop ball by Poyos narrowly went out, giving the Lady Bulldogs match point.
Captain Vange Alinsug then delivered the finishing blow, scoring through the UST blockers to seal the NU win after two hours and 23 minutes.
“Gusto lang po naming makabawi sa pagkatalo namin last game kasi ’yun ‘yung pinanghuhugutan talaga namin, ‘yung game na ’yun. Masaya lang din po kami kasi makikita naman po ‘yung team effort namin and teamwork po,” said Arah Panique, who vowed to bounce back after her net fault in the previous game against La Salle that cost NU the outright berth in the Final Four.
Panique made up for it with 24 points on 21 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, along with six digs. Sam Cantada also stepped up with 20 points on 15 spikes, three blocks, and two aces, plus 17 receptions and nine digs.
Alinsug contributed 13 points, 10 digs, and six receptions, while Chams Maaya, who was key in the fourth set, added nine points on four attacks, three aces, and two blocks.
Shaira Jardio anchored the defense with 33-of-46 excellent receptions and 16-of-33 digs, while Camilla Lamina orchestrated the offense with 24 excellent sets and five points.
For UST, Poyos led the way with 24 points, 15 receptions, and nine digs, while Regina Jurado added 21 points and 16 digs.
Cassie Carballo tallied 25 excellent sets, eight digs, and four points. Detdet Pepito also impressed with 20-of-22 excellent receptions and 16-of-32 digs.
In the men's division, University of Santo Tomas rallied from a seven-point deficit in the fourth set to shock defending champion National University, 30-28, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23, and force a playoff for the second seed and the last twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Wednesday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The win allowed the Golden Spikers to finish the eliminations tied with the Bulldogs for second place with identical 10-4 win-loss records. It also sets up a playoff for the final postseason incentive and a virtual best-of-three series beginning this Saturday, April 25.
