The NU Lady Bulldogs in the 2024 Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship. Handout/SSLMANILA -- Defending champion National University looks to overcome Far Eastern University in a bid to clinch a Finals spot in the 2024 Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
First serve is at 6:00 p.m., with the winner of the match advancing to play De La Salle University in a best-of-3 championship series that starts on November 22.
The Lady Spikers had eliminated University of Santo Tomas in their own semifinal affair that went the full five-set route.
READ: La Salle claims Super League finals ticket with thrilling win vs UST
National U had beaten FEU in the championship series of the 2024 National Invitationals, with both finals games decided in five sets. The Lady Bulldogs then ousted the Lady Tamaraws in the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament en route to winning the crown.
"Kailangan naming gawin is magtrabaho pa rin and gawin 'yung mga sinasabi ng mga coaches. Maging consistent pa and magtiwala lang sa mga kasama," said veteran winger Chenie Tagaod of FEU, as they seek to extend their Super League winning streak to eight matches.
The Lady Tamaraws punched their semifinal ticket after a come-from-behind 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-17 quarterfinal triumph against College of St. Benilde last Sunday.
Tagaod has Alyzza Devosora, Clarisse Loresco, Gerzel Petallo, Jean Asis and setter Tin Ubaldo to back her up in the Lady Tamaraws' charge for a finals spot.
The FEU Lady Tamaraws in the 2024 Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship. Handout/SSLThe Lady Bulldogs, on the other hand, are out to keep their three-peat hopes alive. NU cruised past University of the Philippines, 25-12, 25-22, 25-17, in the quarterfinal last Sunday.
"Ang mindset namin is kailangan maayos pa namin 'yung mga kulang and mas magtrabaho pa kami ng mas mabuti. May mga lapses kami na dapat pang ayusin," said NU assistant coach Karl Dimaculangan.
Reigning tournament Most Valuable Player Alyssa Solomon leads NU backstopped by veterans Bella Belen, Vange Alinsug, Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring and playmaker Lams Lamina.
At 3:30 p.m., Ateneo de Manila University and University of the East collide in the first phase of the classification, with the winner advancing to play Saint Benilde in the battle for fifth on November 16.
The loser of the NU-FEU semis tiff will play the Golden Tigresses in a one-game battle for third on November 22.