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John Bryan Ulanday - The Philippine Star
May 13, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Lady Bulldogs may have found a capable and qualified homegrown talent to take over the NU queendom from Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon: Vange Alinsug.
A bona fide player from the powerhouse National U-Nazareth School since high school, Alinsug continued to showcase her readiness for that leadership role with a big-time performance in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finals.
Alinsug, a third-year player tasked to inherit the torch from the graduating duo of Belen and Solomon, rifled in a team-high 21 points on 21 hits as NU clipped La Salle, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, to bolster its back-to-back feat.
And while others were surprised to see her eruption, Alinsug proved that no stage is too bright for an always game-ready spiker that she is.
“Hindi po naman po ito first time sa akin at sa amin,” she beamed, having been with Belen and Solomon all throughout her career filled with championships from high school to college.
“Ang mindset lang namin ay maglaro kung ano ‘yung nilalaro namin talaga at nag-start ‘yun sa training. Happy ako na naipakita namin ‘yun sa Game 1.”
Her big sisters could not be prouder and grateful enough, taking relief that the Lady Bulldogs’ program is in good hands after their inevitable departure.
“Sobrang proud ako kay Vange kasi nakikita ko ko every training talaga, pinagta-trabahuhan niya. Kasi lagi kong sinasabi na, training pa lang start na ng competition so ‘yun ang lalabas sa laro mo kaya sobrang proud ako sa kanya,” said Solomon, last season’s Finals MVP.
“Kilalang-kilala na namin kasi ‘yung kada isa. I’m very happy lang kasi may naiiwan kami sa mga bata. Marami pang susunod sa amin so ito sana may maiwan kaming maganda,” added two-time Season MVP Belen.
With Belen and Solomon at helm, the Lady Bulldogs have made it to four straight finals with a potential to clinch a third title in tomorrow’s Game 2.
Alinsug is up to the task to even extend that next season in a looming NU dynasty.
Alinsug is more than ready to embrace the bigger role and the tougher challenge without her big sisters but for now, first things first and that’s taking care of business in the clincher.
“Tuloy-tuloy lang kami. Ngayon may two days kami para makuha ‘yung Game 2,” she vowed.
