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Vange Alinsug rifled in a team-high 21 points on 21 hits in Game 1 as NU made short work of rival La Salle, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, to bolster its back-to-back bid.
UAAP Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — It will take a capable, qualified and homegrown heir apparent to the reign of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon in National University’s queendom. And the Lady Bulldogs may just have found it in Vange Alinsug.
A bona fide player from the powerhouse National University-Nazareth School since high school like her seniors, Alinsug stepped up to the plate to showcase her readiness for that leadership role following a big-time performance in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finals.
Alinsug, a third-year player tasked to inherit NU’s torch from the graduating duo of Belen and Solomon, rifled in a team-high 21 points on 21 hits in Game 1 as NU made short work of rival La Salle, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, to bolster its back-to-back bid.
And while others were surprised to see her eruption simply for being only the third shadow in NU’s "Big 3", Alinsug proved that no stage is too bright for an always game-ready spiker that she always 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 nagi-start ‘yung 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 every training talaga, pinagta-trabahuhan niya. Kasi lagi kong sinasabi na, training palang start na ng competition so ‘yun ang lalabas sa laro mo kaya sobrang proud ako sakanya,” said Solomon, last season’s Finals Most Valuable Player.
“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. Valinsug is up next for a 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 ulit ‘yung Game 2,” she vowed.
