NU opens post-Belen era with SSL triumph

DAVAO CITY --- National University (NU) hardly looked like a team rebuilding from the departure of star Bella Belen after a dominating performance for a repeat title in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Davao Leg.

The Lady Bulldogs proved doubters wrong by having the same powerful bite to complete a three-game sweep, capped by a gritty 25-21, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17 victory over a retooled University of the Philippines on Sunday evening in front of a huge Davao crowd at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym.

Veteran Arah Panique, skipper Vange Alinsug and decorated setter Lams Lamina guided a relatively younger NU squad in passing its first test with flying colors following the exit of its main gunners in three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan.

“This is our first league as a rebuilding team. We are so happy that we won. A lot of people thought we won’t be able to pull it off but we showed that we could still win even without the senior players,” said Alinsug, who scored 13 points in a revenge win over NU’s UAAP Season 87 second round tormentor.

The Lady Bulldogs swept Notre Dame of Dadiangas University and host Davao Selection before encountering a tough battle against erstwhile unbeaten Fighting Maroons in a thrilling final match of the round robin format .

NU dropped a set after for the first time in the competition when transferee Casiey Dongallo and Joan Monares found their groove in powering UP in the second set.

But the Lady Bulldogs won’t be denied glory after Panique, who dropped 25 points, Best Player of the Davao Leg rookie Sam Cantada along with Alinsug came out with all guns blazing in the next two frames to conquer the competition.

“The UP players are blending well and you really have to prepare well,” NU head coach Sherwin Meneses said.

“I think that team is the team to beat in the UAAP. They fight well and I think this will be serve as a morale-booster for us in our UAAP campaign.”

The multi-titled mentor credited his holdovers for embracing their new roles as leaders.

“The holdovers already know the system but the main goal is winning the UAAP. We will start out as new because of the four seniors who left,” added Meneses.