Game today:

(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)

6:30 p.m. --- La Salle vs NU  

Three-peat-seeking National University and undefeated De La Salle University tangle in a much-anticipated battle for supremacy as the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship best-of-three finals erupts Friday, Nov. 22, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Facing off in an exciting rematch of the inaugural edition’s title showdown two years ago, expect nothing but explosive action when the two proud and star-studded teams collide at 6:30 p.m. to draw first blood.

The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Spikers booked their tickets to the grand finale of the competition, which is supported by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea, Grab Philippines, and Summit Water, in contrasting fashions.

NU, which aims to complete a season sweep after ruling the National Invitationals, booted out erstwhile unbeaten Far Eastern University, 25-16, 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, in the knockout semifinal.

The lethal trio of reigning MVP Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug headlined the Lady Bulldogs’ victory over the raging Lady Tamaraws to pave the way for another epic clash with the squad that handed them their lone defeat so far in the competition.

NU, under new mentor Sherwin Meneses, heads into the championship opener raring to unleash its full arsenal to avenge its four-set loss to La Salle in the second round which snapped its amazing 28-game win streak that started in 2022.        

“’Yung finals kasi siyempre iba na ‘yung atmosphere and level ng game so I think match naman ‘yung game,” said Meneses.

The Lady Bulldogs are also banking on Alexa Mata, Erin Pangilinan, Arah Panique, Sheena Toring and setter Lams Lamina to score their payback.

“Kailangan ma-limit namin ‘yung mga basic errors namin. ‘Yung ang no. 1 target namin na maiwasan, ‘yung basic errors namin,” Meneses added.

On the other hand, La Salle had to sweat it out before taming University of Santo Tomas in five sets, 26-28, 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 15-13, in the other semis pairing to extend their winning run to eight.

Angel Canino, 2023 National Invitationals MVP Shevana Laput, Amie Provido and Jyne Soreno are expected to deliver their usual numbers to power the Lady Spikers in their return to the gold medal round of the competition which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and SM Tickets as technical partners.    

“Lagi naman naming sinasabi sa kanila na matibay ang makakalaban namin so kailangang mag-stick sila sa sistema. Importante na hindi mawala ‘yung pasa namin at ‘wag maubusan ng pasensya sa ginagawa,” La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo said ahead of their first SSL championship meeting with NU since the winner-take-all final back in 2022.

Game 2 of the finals and the one-game battle for bronze between UST and FEU will be played on Sunday.

SSL games are aired live and on-demand via Puso Pilipinas, SMART Livestream, Solar Sports Channel 70 on Sky Cable and Channel 59 on Cable Link.