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Bella Belen quickly assembled the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in a huddle following the third set that circled the drain, fully aware that allowing University of Santo Tomas (UST) to win another frame could be fatal.
“I reminded them that [we needed] to win at all cost,” Belen said when asked of that huddle, a crucial element in a 25-16, 25-21, 17-25, 25-14 victory over the Tigresses on Wednesday that all but sewed up No. 2 ranking for the defending champion Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
“We’re already up by two sets, just a little more effort and we’ll be there,’’ Belen went on. “We have to get ahead of them fast. [Because] once they get the advantage, it will be difficult for us since we are prone to errors.’’
It was a win that not only avenged a five-set loss in the first round, but also gave the Lady Bulldogs the second twice-to-beat privilege after they rose to 10-3 and dropped the Tigresses to 9-4, tied for third spot with idle Adamson.
Even with both sides having one game left, and even if National loses to Ateneo and Santo Tomas beats University of the Philippines (UP) to close out the elimination round, the Lady Bulldogs will take No. 2 ranking by losing just four sets in their head-to-head with the Tigresses.
