ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider Bulldogs stay wary of complacency, remain focused on title goal

Bulldogs stay wary of complacency, remain focused on title goal

Published Nov 13, 2025 12:55 pm  |  Updated Nov 13, 2025 01:06 pm

At A Glance

  • National University is just three set wins away from completing a four-peat in the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup.
NU Lady Bulldogs (SSL)
NU Lady Bulldogs (SSL)
National University is just three set wins away from completing a four-peat in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup.
After drawing first blood in the best-of-three finals series against a dangerous and gritty University of Santo Tomas last week, the Lady Bulldogs go for the jugular on Saturday, Nov. 15, in Game 2 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
But shooting for a sweep in the league’s centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea is easier said than done.
In fact, the still unbeaten NU barely escaped the claws of the Tigresses in a 15-25, 25-23, 25-17, 13-25, 15-12, nailbiter in the series opener at the same historic venue.
The Lady Bulldogs dug deep inside their bag of championship experience to stay composed after trailing by two points late in the deciding frame before uncorking a 5-0 closing barrage to stun UST for their ninth win in as many games.
NU, which also aims for a second straight season sweep following its earlier flawless conquest of the National Invitationals Davao Leg, expects the wounded Tigresses to be more aggressive in the pivotal second meeting.
So, keeping their guard up against UST is a must for the Lady Bulldogs to replicate their domination of the same opponent in the finals of the 2023 edition.
“Nanalo kami sa Game 1 pero di kami pwedeng mag-relax. Magpapahinga kami pero ‘yung magre-relax na talagang kampante ‘di pwede ‘yun kasi di pa naman tapos,” NU prized rookie Sam Cantada said.
The high-flying power-hitter and Alas Pilipinas U18 star is also on the brink of achieving a rare feat of winning a triple crown.
Cantada powered NU-Nazareth School to its first-ever Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League and also copped tournament MVP in her high school swan song. She then earned Best Player honors after leading the Lady Bulldogs to the National Invitationals throne in an impressive seniors debut.
The Tigresses, however, are determined to flip the script.
“'Di pa naman natatapos ang series. Babawi at babawi kami. May chance pa and ‘yun ang susubukan naming makuha,” UST head coach Shaq delos Santos said.
Angge Poyos, Regina Jurado, Marga Altea, Xyza Gula, playmaker Cassie Carballo and senior libero Detdet Pepito are ready to match the firepower of NU’s Cantada, Celine Marsh, Chams Maaya, Kaye Bombita, Vange Alinsug, setter Lams Lamina and defense specialist Shaira Jardio to force a series decider on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the winner-take-all battle for bronze between Far Eastern University and Adamson University is also on Saturday.
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup, 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, are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
###
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.