NU's star duo of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon gear up for their final run with the Lady Bulldogs as they face La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 Finals.
Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon aim to cap their collegiate careers on a high note as they banner the NU Lady Bulldogs in a titanic UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Finals showdown against the DLSU Lady Spikers on Sunday, May 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game 1 is set for 5:00 p.m.
This will mark the third championship meeting between the powerhouse programs in the last four seasons—each side holding one title apiece, making this latest clash a fitting trilogy-breaker.
But if recent history is any indication, NU holds the edge.
The Lady Bulldogs have had La Salle’s number this year, sweeping the Lady Spikers in both their elimination-round meetings. In fact, NU is riding a three-game winning streak against La Salle, dating back to the second round of Season 86.
With Belen and Solomon possibly making their last Finals appearance, expect them to pull out all the stops to steer NU toward a second title in three years.
On the other side, La Salle is peaking at the right time. After surviving and eliminating UST in back-to-back pressure games, the Lady Spikers are eager to reclaim the crown they last held in Season 85.
Angel Canino and Shevana Laput will be heavily relied on to penetrate NU’s composed and balanced attack.
With the winner gaining a crucial upper hand in this best-of-three series, expect fireworks as two of the league’s finest programs go head-to-head once more with history—and legacy—on the line.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]