Will the redemption story for the NU Lady Bulldogs be completed in Game 2? Or can the UST Golden Tigresses overcome the ghost of Finals past?
2-0 or 1-1? Title no. 4 or one more match?
Game 2 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament is upon us.
The stakes are the highest they have ever been for both the National University and the University of Santo Tomas as they lay everything on the line on Wednesday, May 15, 4:00 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Redemption complete?
All eyes will be on the Lady Bulldogs if they can complete their title run with another victory against the University of Santo Tomas.
After falling short last season against De La Salle University, NU can smell its second championship in three years after the clinical Game 1 victory, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20.
Can the Lady Bulldogs finally complete their redemption story for Season 86?
[ALSO READ: UAAP: NU focused on redemption for Season 86, says coach Norman Miguel]
Wounded Tigresses?
Of course, for the Golden Tigresses, the biggest question will be the health of super rookie Angge Poyos, who sprained her right ankle in Game 1 of the Finals.
The scene came like a deja vu moment for UST fans who saw former star Eya Laure go down with an injury in Game 2 of the Season 81 Finals. It was a heartbreak of a season for the España-based squad, who fell short of their title hopes that season.
But can this version of the Golden Tigresses change their destiny this time around?
[ALSO READ: As déjà vu rears its ugly head, coach Kungfu names list of players to step up for UST in UAAP Finals in place of injured star Angge Poyos]
The “Mini Miss UST” has shown its heart throughout Season 86—and they will need to do it again with or without Poyos.
Key numbers heading into Game 2
7 — The Lady Bulldogs finished with seven blocks in Game 1 compared to the Golden Tigresses’ single block.
17 — NU and UST’s top scorers both finished with 17 points. Alyssa Solomon led the way for the Lady Bulldogs, while Jonna Perdido stepped up in the absence of Poyos.
However, Solomon had support from Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug. While Regina Jurado, the next-highest scorer for UST, only finished with 10 markers.
19 — NU committed 19 errors as compared to UST’s 18, which gave some glimmer of hope for the Golden Tigresses throughout the match.
2 — It’s been two straight seasons where the UAAP women’s volleyball finals ended in 2-0. The last one? UST’s defeat to Ateneo de Manila University back in 2019.
With those in mind, expect the Lady Bulldogs and Golden Tigresses to go all out in what is expected to be a thrilling Game 2 encounter.
The Wednesday game will air on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and the Pilipinas Live app.