National University staved off University of Santo Tomas in Game 2, 25-17, 15-25, 25-20, 25-20, to cap its second straight title sweep in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila. 

Albeit in the jaws of the Golden Tigresses’ strong resistance, the Lady Bulldogs braved on and chewed out their 18th win in a row after also wiping out the entire opposition in the inaugural season to erect a dynasty in the SSL with back-to-back perfect championship runs.

Mhicaela Belen, the First Best Outside Hitter, delivered when it mattered the most with 17 points – all on attacks – including seven of NU’s last 10 points to complete a comeback in the fourth set. 

Evangeline Alinsug added 15 points while Alyssa Solomon, the back-to-back SSL Season MVP and Best Opposite Spiker, dropped 14 points on 10 hits, three blocks and an ace.

Best Setter Camilla Lamina quarterbacked the steady offense with First Best Middle Blocker and team captain Erin May Pangilinan anchoring the defensive stand of the Lady Bulldogs in a 2-0 finale sweep of the SSL Season 2 backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc.  

Other awardees included Angeline Poyos (Second Best Outside Hitter) and Maria Bernadett Pepito (Best Libero) of UST as well as Lorene Toring (Second Best Middle Blocker) of Adamson.

“Sa totoo lang, nakakabilib ‘yung UST. For 2 consecutive days, maganda nilaro nila. Kami pa ‘yung lumalabas na unprepared sa nilalaro nila. Siguro, nandoon lang ‘yung konting maturity namin to survive the game,” said Norman Miguel, a champion coach right away in his NU return. 

“’Yung level of character ng bawat isa, nandoon. High school pa lang, champions na yang mga yan. Nagchampion pa sila sa UAAP women’s. ‘Yun ang bumubuhat sa kanila, ‘yung character talaga nila kaya ito ang resulta sa SSL.” 

NU split the first two sets with UST and was on the brink of facing its first set deficit with a 6-9 deficit in the third frame before Solomon stamped her MVP form with clutch hits after one another for a 25-20. 

As the Golden Tigresses roared back behind Xyza Gula, the Lady Bulldogs trailed by 13-16 anew to stare at their potential first five-setter match this season. 

Then Belen, the former UAAP Rookie-MVP, took charge with a timely eruption against whatever defense Golden Tigresses threw at her in lifting the Lady Bulldogs to the gritty win. 

Overall, NU dropped only two sets in an amazing 10-game this season – a similar feat it had in yielding only two sets in an eight-game campaign in the inaugural tournament.

Gula had 18 points while Poyos and Regina Jurado added 11 and 10 points in UST’s runner-up finish this time after placing fourth last season.

Earlier, Far Eastern U completed a sweep of Adamson with another feisty 25-18, 16-25, 25-15, 21-25, 15-7 win in Game 2 to bag the bronze medal of the SSL Season 2 in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.

It’s the same scenario – and the same results – for the Lady Tamaraws in earning a gutsy five-setter win once again behind the efforts of super rookie Faida Bakanke, Gerzel Petallo and Chenie Tagaod with 16, 15 and 12 points, respectively. 

FEU, which settled for a quarterfinal finish in Season 1, also took a narrow 25-20, 25-19, 12-25, 14-25, 15-12 win in Game 1 for a commendable podium finish behind NU and UST.