The Lady Bulldogs have four matches left in the elimination round.
Defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs flexed their pedigree when they swept the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the second round of UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball on Wednesday, 26-24, 25-16, 25-22.
It was a statement win for the Lady Bulldogs, especially against the Lady Falcons, a team that forced them to five sets the first time around.
It was certainly a sign that despite the consecutive losses to the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, the Lady Bulldogs still got plenty of bite.
"Pinaghugutan namin 'yung mga past na talo namin," setter Camilla Lamina told the media after the match. "Siguro kailangan namin mag-improve individually and as a team. Pinaghugutan din namin 'yung motivation na dapat manalo."
NU is now in a three-way tie for second place with Adamson and the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses with a 7-3 record.
And that straight-sets victory over the Adamson could certainly be read as a declaration to another team that dealt NU a loss—UST.
In the first shocking upset of UAAP Season 85, Eya Laure and the Golden Tigresses forced Bella Belen and the Lady Bulldogs to five thrilling and dramatic sets, dealing the defending champions their first loss in the tournament. It served like a notice to the rest of the league: it's open season.
On April 26, NU will face its tormentor once again. And unlike the Lady Bulldogs, who suffered back-to-back defeats against the league-leading Lady Spikers, the Golden Tigresses boast of also dealing the Taft-based squad its first loss this season.
With an unstoppable Eya Laure, a comebacking Milena Alessandrini, and an improving Regina Jurado, NU would have to play their best game ever to prove they're still the top dogs.
Lamina believes they can. They have the chemistry. And now, they've got plenty of tape to study. Just like how they did with Adamson.
"Nag-stick lang kami sa strategy ni coach [Karl Dimaculangan], nagtiwala kami sa isa't isa," she said.
For Belen, what's important is that they can take back every point that they cede. "Nakakasagot kami, may balik kami kada situation."
(With reports from Rainier Mira, One Sports Digital)