#SWAGFEST
A game not for the faint-hearted. The UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament Finals Game 1 concluded with an empathic comeback win by last year’s runners-up. The De La Salle University Lady Spikers escaped the defending champions, National University Lady Bulldogs in a thrilling five-set win, 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13.
The game 1 of the finals started with a dominating and convincing set 1 win by the defending champions, 18-25. Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers equalized the game after taking set 2, 25-22, led by the super rookie Angel Canino.
By the third set, it was already looking like the Bulldogs were already positioned to win the first round of the finals series after a 25-22 win, but the Lady Spikers made a run in set 4, 25-21, to force a decider.
Come set 5, the collision between the two juggernauts proved to be one for the books. The top two teams dragged each other as they exchanged points in a race to 15. Unfortunately, it was halted during the latter stretch of the set when NU Lady Bulldogs Middle Blocker, Sheena Toring, collided with last year’s Best Middle Blocker, Thea Gagate, which led to the former being stretchered off the court.
After Canino sent La Salle to match point, NU handed the finals game 1 to La Salle via an error. Senior skipper Joyme Cagande committed a shank pass to Maaya, leading the latter to commit a hitting error.
A La Salle redemption or an NU title defense?
The DLSU Lady Spikers are now a win away from clinching their 12th UAAP Women’s Volleyball Championship title. But the defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs will look to extend the series to a knockout match on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The awarding ceremony for the individual awards will take place at 1 p.m. NU Lady Bulldogs’ main gunner and last year’s Season Most Valuable Player, Bella Belen, is in contention to win the top plum back-to-back. However, DLSU’s super rookie, Angel Canino, and senior Jolina Dela Cruz also look to edge Belen in the MVP race.
Can La Salle take home their 12th championship title? Or will NU extend the series to a do-or-die to defend their crown?
