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John Bryan Ulanday - The Philippine Star
May 11, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — And the trilogy is on.
A rising dynasty in National U meets the unbridled La Salle legacy today in the highly anticipated Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With a week to prepare their armies, a total war looms at 5 p.m. in the main event after an equally massive encounter between four-peat champion NU and challenger Far Eastern U in the men’s play at 1 p.m.
But all eyes will be on the modern day rivalry starring the showdown between the history’s only Rookie-MVPs in Bella Belen and Angel Canino as the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Spikers face off for collegiate volleyball supremacy for the third time in four seasons.
At stake for NU is a second straight title and third overall in the last four. For La Salle that’s been the best this generation with 12 titles and three three-peat feats, it’s redemption for protection of a long winning tradition.
The Lady Bulldogs, with an intact core led by two-time MVP Belen, enter the battle pit as the slight favorites against the young Lady Spikers unit. Not for coach Sherwin Meneses, though, regardless of their two wins in the elims.
“Iba ‘yung finals eh. Hindi porque tinalo mo sila sa dalawang elimination rounds, kayo na mananalo. Gagawin lang namin lahat para ma-defend ‘yung crown ng NU,” said Meneses, a first-year mentor in Jhocson but with a vast title experience as the author of the Creamline dynasty in the PVL.
Meneses, a seven-time PVL champion, took the NU rein only last year during the offseason, inheriting a powerhouse program featuring stars Belen and Solomon.
Belen and Finals MVP Solomon have lorded it over the UAAP since their collegiate transition, sweeping Season 84 with a 16-0 slate capped by a finale win against La Salle to give NU its first title in 65 years.
And that’s what makes La Salle a heavy underdog, as per the grizzled guru Ramil de Jesus despite his personal championship experience.
“Kilala naman natin NU, since high school pa lang magkakasama na mga ‘yan. Sobrang lalim ng experience nila kasama isa’t isa,” said De Jesus, holder of 12 titles in 21 finals appearances as he goes up against first-year NU mentor Meneses.
That doesn’t mean a white flag in Taft this early though, given De Jesus’ caliber as the engine in La Salle’s stature as the best collegiate volleyball program this century with Canino and Shevana Laput leading the way.
“Talagang paghahandaan lang namin. Marami pa akong dapat i-ayos sa team eh. Siguro kung mailalabas nila yung ine-expect ko sa kanila (players), baka makasabay kami at magkaroon ng chance – malaking chance,” said De Jesus, who’ been with La Salle for almost 30 years.
The battle lines have been drawn, the armies are up front, the generals have commanded and so, who’s going to draw the first blood?
