NU digs deep, pulls off stunning reverse sweep to oust FEU for UAAP finals return

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From two sets down, defending UAAP women's volleyball champion NU shows title-tested poise to dump all-heart FEU in a five-frame reversal with a captivating, razor-thin ending

MANILA, Philippines – Champions for a reason.

Though they took the long way, the NU Lady Bulldogs marched back to the UAAP women’s volleyball finals for the fourth straight season after stunning the FEU Lady Tamaraws from two sets down to take a heart-stopping 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15 escape at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, May 3.

MVP frontrunner and two-time winner Bella Belen bucked a slow start to finish with another big triple-double of 23 points, 14 digs, and 10 excellent receptions, as partner-in-crime and reigning Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon scored 21, with both doing their damage primarily in the clutch.

Digging a quick two-set hole for NU, FEU showed shades of its Season 86 Final Four Game 1 shock sweep, leading as late as 21-20 in the third before the Lady Bulldogs finally broke the curse with a 25-23 escape to stay alive that they followed up with a massive 25-14 fourth-set blowout.

All bets were off, however, in the fifth, as young Lovely Lopez drilled multiple tie-forcing hits for FEU up to as late as 15-all, with NU swinging for the fences in its desire to close out.

At the very end, as it turned out, it was again the Bella Belen show as the likely three-time MVP showed why she’s one of the country’s best today with back-to-back ice-cold hits to seal the deal in the champions’ favor.

Lams Lamina tossed 26 excellent sets in the nerve-wracking victory, Chammy Maaya scored 13 on 5 blocks in a blistering three-set appearance, while Shaira Jardio was again the unsung hero with 21 excellent receptions and 19 digs for the Lady Bulldogs.

Faida Bakanke paced the heartbreaking elimination loss for FEU with 15 points, while former NU middle blocker Jaz Ellarina gave it all against her old team with 14 points.

All-around star Gerzel Petallo also scored 14 with a smattering of support stats: 14 excellent receptions and 13 digs for her own triple-double line.

Tin Ubaldo tallied 22 excellent sets as the Lady Tamaraws ultimately fell to the Lady Bulldogs in the Final Four for the second straight season, this time in quicker and more painful fashion. – Rappler.com