Defending champion National University secured a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage after a swift, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17 crushing of Ateneo de Manila University in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup second round on Wednesday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

The four-peat-seeking Lady Bulldogs flexed their firepower to overwhelm the struggling Blue Eagles despite a rusty opening set for a 3-0 win-loss finish in Pool E.

NU, still unbeaten after six games overall in the tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea, will face the fourth-ranked squad in Pool F in the crossover quarterfinals.

Chams Maaya and Josline Salazar spearheaded the Lady Bulldogs’ assault with 10 points each and combined for 14 of the team’s 37 attack points.

“Our motivation is to have a good performance despite having only two days of rest. We really need to rest that’s why we went all out as a team today,” Maaya said.

However, NU had a hard time shaking off Ateneo and even trailed, 21-22, in the opening set. Maaya took matters into her own hands as she uncorked three points in the Lady Bulldogs’ 4-0 closing rally to salvage the frame.

NU found its rhythm from there and sent the Blue Eagles reeling to a 0-2 card in the round and a four-game losing skid overall.

“We’re a little bit shaky in the first set,” she said. “But in the second set, that’s when we regained our rhythm and started to play well.”