NU Lady Bulldogs set stage for familiar Finals clash with DLSU Lady Spikers

Big teams find their identity in pressure moments—and National University proved once again why it thrives in them.

With their title defense hanging in the balance, the NU Lady Bulldogs absorbed an early blow before flipping the script on the UST Golden Tigresses, carving out a hard-earned 19-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-21 victory in the UAAP Season 88 stepladder semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

The win does more than extend NU’s campaign—it revives a rivalry that has come to define this era of women’s volleyball. 

For the fourth time in the last five years, the Lady Bulldogs will face the unbeaten DLSU Lady Spikers in the Finals.

After dropping the opening set, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves repeatedly pushed to the edge by a determined UST side. Yet every time the Golden Tigresses threatened to pull away, NU responded with resolve.

Arah Panique emerged as the spark in the most critical stretches. With NU trailing 16-19 in the second set, she teamed up with Vange Alinsug to engineer a 10-5 turnaround that not only stole the frame, 26-24, but shifted the match’s momentum.

The third set followed a familiar script. Down 20-22, NU once again leaned on Panique, who powered a 6-2 closing run to secure another razor-thin 26-24 escape and put the defending champions ahead.

UST refused to fold, surging to an 18-14 lead in the fourth set in a last push to extend the match. But just when the Tigresses sensed a decider, Alinsug ignited NU’s final charge—scoring five key points in an 11-3 blitz that slammed the door shut on UST’s season.

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UAAP SEASON 88 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL FINALS

The Battle for the Championship begins! REVENGE vs. REPEAT in the UAAP Women’s volleyball Finals game 1 on MAY 6 @ Mall of Asia Arena

GAME 1 | 5:00 PM | DLSU NU

Who will get the first blood of the Finals game 1?#UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/PWp7GEOSkN

— VOLLEYBALLnatics (@VBALLnatics) May 4, 2026

Behind the scoring runs was the steady orchestration of playmaker Lams Lamina, who dictated NU’s offense with 34 excellent sets while adding three points of her own. Her composure under pressure earned her Player of the Game honors.

“Very happy kasi lahat kami pinagtrabahuan talaga ‘yung win na ito. Crucial game siya, do-or-die, kaya sobrang happy ako sa performance ng team,” Lamina said.

Panique finished with 23 points, while Alinsug contributed 18 points along with 16 receptions and seven digs in a complete all-around effort. Alexa Mata added 10 points, highlighted by five attacks, four blocks, and an ace—each contribution part of a collective stand that defined NU’s comeback.

For UST, the loss marked the end of a gritty campaign. Regina Jurado led the Tigresses with 19 points and 12 digs, while Angge Poyos filled the stat sheet with 16 points, 13 receptions, and 10 digs.

In what may have been her final collegiate appearance, team captain and libero Detdet Pepito anchored UST’s defense with 23 digs and eight receptions, embodying the fight that kept the Tigresses competitive until the end.

With the semifinals behind them, NU now turns its focus to a bigger stage—and a familiar foe. Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals against La Salle is set for May 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Lady Bulldogs will carry with them not just momentum, but a reminder of who they are when pushed to the brink—a team that doesn’t just survive pressure, but transforms it into opportunity.

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