NU thwarts UST, bags Shakey’s NCR crown

MANILA, Philippines - National University added the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League crown to its growing list of victories in the sporting front, battling back from a third set defeat to foil University of Santo Tomas, 25-21, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23, and capture the NCR leg crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig last Sunday.

With Faith Nisperos leading the attack, the Lady Bullpups dominated the first two sets, stumbled in the third but regained their form in the fourth, outdueling the España-based squad in a gripping battle to hack out the victory and advance to the League of Champions set next year.

Nisperos went on to bag the MVP crown and the best middle blocker honors while teammates Rica Diolan took the best setter award, Kristine Magallanes won the best libero honors and Jasmin Nabor copped the best opposite spiker plum in the event sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Metro Sports headed by Freddie Infante.

NU, which topped the Pool B elims, swept Pool A runner-up Kings’ Montessori School, 25-15, 25-14, in the semis while UST, which finished behind NU in the elims, stunned defending champion Hope Christian High School, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, in the Final Four.

Hope’s scoring leader Justine Dorog took the best outside spiker title, UST’s Ejiya Laure was named the second best outside spiker, while UST’s Pauline Gaston bagged the second best middle block honors in the event backed by Mikasa, Asics, Volley Prep, Nature’s Spring, Sun Star, The Freeman Newspaper, Cebu Daily News, Sun Cellular and Millenia Suites.

NU will thus join the other champions of the other regional elims of the nationwide tournament in the League of Champions slated Jan. 11-16, also at the Ynares Sports Arena. They include La Salle-A, Iligan City National High School, St. John’s Institute, Tagum City National High School, University of San Carlos and Holy Family Academy.

Teams from New Zealand, Australia, the US and Bangladesh are also joining the League of Champions, guaranteeing a slambang duel for the crown in the 12th season of the annual event, according to Metro Sports’ Johanz Buenvenida.