WINNER. Jose Rizal University's Mary May Ruiz (No. 9) and Pat del Pilar (No. 17) fail to stop National University's Alyssa Solomon during the Pool A match in the Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday (Oct. 1, 2023). The Lady Bulldogs prevailed, 25-11, 25-12, 25-11. (Photo courtesy of Shakey's Super League)
MANILA – Defending champion National University (NU) pulled off a 25-11, 25-12, 25-11 victory over Jose Rizal University to sweep Pool A in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Sunday.
Rookie Arah Ella Panique delivered seven attacks, two blocks and an ace, while Nataszha Kaye Bombita and reigning SSL Most Valuable Player Alyssa Solomon contributed eight points apiece for the Lady Bulldogs, who needed only 67 minutes to beat the Lady Bombers.
Mhicaela Belen, Minierva Maaya and Myrtle Escanlar chipped in six points each, while Aishat Bello and skipper Erin May Pangilinan had five points each.
NU's previous wins were over San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 25-18, 25-15, 25-13; and University of the East (UE), 25-15, 25-19, 25-15.
NU will face Pool B No. 2 Arellano University, while Pool C No. 1 University of Santo Tomas will meet the Pool D No. 2 team.
In the playoffs, they are grouped in Pool E.
Meanwhile, teams in Pool F, namely Pool A No. 2 UE, Pool B No. 1 Adamson, Pool B No. 1 Far Eastern University and Pool C No. 2 College of Saint Benilde, will play in a single-round robin for positioning starting on Oct. 14 before the crossover quarterfinals against Pool E teams.
“Syempre, hindi kami pwedeng maging complacent. Hindi kami pwedeng magrelax going into the playoffs. Mas competitive na doon. Pataas ng pataas 'yung level (Of course, we cannot be complacent. We can't relax going into the playoffs. It's more competitive there. The level goes up). We still have a lot to work on, especially on our service lapses,” NU coach Norman Miguel said. (PNA)
