Reigning UAAP champions NU Lady Bulldogs are set for a new era after the exit of graduating stars Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
The National University Lady Bulldogs’ will chase a four-peat in a preseason tiff, their first tournament without star hitters Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
The Lady Bulldogs, who have won the crown in three of the last four UAAP seasons, are gunning for a fourth straight title in the Shakey’s Super League Pre-Season Unity Cup which unfurls later this month.
With the team’s makeup significantly altered with seniors exiting the team and rookies gaining entry, the Jhocson-based spikers are headed in a new direction. Veteran setter Lams Lamina and team captain Vange Alinsug will lead the team’s new push.
“This is going to be our rebuilding era,” said Regine Diego, who is reportedly going to take the reins as head coach for the Lady Bulldogs.
“Hindi naman pwedeng ikaw lagi 'yung on top, hindi naman ikaw 'yung expected mag-win. We will just do our best and try to defend our title,” she added.
Since the league began in 2022, NU has been the standard, winning all three previous editions.
But with Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan also exiting the program, NU now enters unfamiliar territory.
For long-time role player and UAAP Season 87 co-Finals MVP Alinsug, there is more to expect from the team as well, with new talent coming in to hopefully fill in the void left by their seniors, especially three-time UAAP MVP Belen.
Competing against five other UAAP schools and 10 NCAA teams, the Lady Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them.
“Rebuilding team kami and wala na seniors namin but andiyan naman 'yung rookies namin which is 'yung mga top din sila from high school. Magiging exciting pa rin naman,” said Alinsug during the league press conference on Wednesday.
“Bibigyan pa rin namin ng magandang laban even sa lahat ng team na gusto talaga kaming matalo at pagtatrabahuan talaga namin 'yun hanggang matapos,” she added.
As for Diego, who previously held the head coaching reins for the NU-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups also in the UAAP, she hopes her team pulls off a few surprises to keep themselves at a high level even as they transition into a new age.
“It’s a usual preparation for the UAAP for us and sa lahat so hopefully ma-surprise tayong lahat and mag-improve lahat sa liga na ito,” she said.
NU leads the 16-team pool in the Shakey’s preseason tiff which features all NCAA teams and six UAAP teams save for La Salle and UE. The teams will be divided into four groups of four teams each.
The top-2 teams of each group will move forward to the next round.