Unbeaten defending champion National University boosted its quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage bid after beating University of the Philippines, 25-20, 23-25, 25-13, 25-18, for a second straight win in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup second round Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Skipper Vange Alinsug and Celine Marsh did most of the damage as the four-peat-seeking Lady Bulldogs once again stamped their class over their SSL National Invitationals Davao Leg gold medal match victim for the solo lead in Pool E.
NU came up with a strong third-set fightback after yielding the second frame and carried the momentum into the fourth for its fifth straight victory overall in the tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R and B Milk Tea.
Alinsug scored 14 points from 11 kills, two kill blocks and an ace to go with five excellent receptions and two digs in an all-around performance for the Lady Bulldogs, who were inspired by the presence of their former ace player and decorated spiker Bella Belen watching on the sideline.
Marsh finished with 14 points off 10 kills, including the match-clinching crosscourt hit that ended the one-hour, 53-minute encounter, and four aces, while Alexa Mata added 10 markers for NU, which came off a five-set escape over Adamson University on Saturday.
“Minotivate lang namin sarili namin kasi alam naman namin na magsusunod-sunod ang laro, and ang goal naman talaga namin is makapag-perform kami ng maayos and maipanalo rin ang games ng mga sunod-dunod,” Alinsug said.
NU sparked a decisive 7-2 blitz to turn a slim three-point advantage into a 23-15 gap in the fourth after Marsh scored off a sharp cross.
The Fighting Maroons mounted a last hurrah, scoring three straight points to get within five, 23-18, only for Irah Jaboneta to send her spike wide before Marsh’s finishing blow.
“Sa amin naman di lang namin tinanggalan ng morale ang isa’t isa kasi alam din namin talaga na di rin magpapatalo ang UP. So, kami pinag-aralan namin sila and in-apply naman namin sa game. Nakipagtulungan din naman ang mga teammates ko,” Alinsug said.
The Lady Bulldogs committed two crucial errors in UP’s closing 3-1 run to steal the second set. NU raced to an 11-4 lead in the third frame and never looked back for a 2-1 match lead.
The Lady Bulldogs will try to secure a quarters incentive when they battle Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday to close their second round run in the competition, supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel- Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.
Jelai Gajero and Cassiey Dongallo scored 14 points each with a combined 25 kills in the Fighting Maroons’ 45 attack points.
Nina Ytang added seven markers but failed to save UP, which threw away 35 points off errors, from absorbing its first loss in the tournament after a three-game sweep of the preliminary round
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
