Push Admin

Article (news)

UAAP Season 80 Preview: NU Lady Bulldogs

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/02/01/nu.jpg"/><figcaption>Will 2018 finally be NU&#x27;s year? <em>Josh Albelda, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA, Philippines – There&#x27;s no other way to say it: National University (NU) has been extremely disappointing in the past two UAAP seasons. With a new coach on board, can they finally live up to their potential this year?</p><p>Last season&#x27;s record: 7-7</p><div><strong>What happened in Season 79?</strong></div><p>Season 79 was supposed to be NU&#x27;s year. They won the PVL Collegiate Conference during the preseason, establishing themselves as contenders. Jaja Santiago was ready to take her place as the UAAP&#x27;s best player. Coach Roger Gorayeb finally had a setter he could trust in Jasmin Nabor.</p><p>The tournament started out well enough. NU won its first three games, including an impressive win over Ateneo de Manila University. But a loss to De La Salle University sent them into a tailspin, and they lost three straight games.</p><p>A strong stand in the middle of the tournament, when they won four of five games, put NU back in the hunt. But a five-set triumph over Ateneo in the second round turned out to be their last stand as the Lady Bulldogs lost their final three games and missed the Final 4 for the second year in a row.</p><p>It was a massively disappointing result for NU, given the caliber of their roster. Santiago collected awards at the end of the season, evidence of her statistical dominance. But the Lady Bulldogs were simply never able to put things together, for reasons that Gorayeb struggled to explain.</p><p>Gorayeb tendered his courtesy resignation after their final game of the season, a five-set loss to University of Santo Tomas.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/02/21/gorayeb-022117.jpg"/><figcaption>Roger Gorayeb tendered his courtesy resignation to NU at the end of Season 79. <em>Richard Esguerra, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Key losses: Coach Roger Gorayeb<br/>Key returnees: Jaja Santiago, Jasmin Nabor, Aiko Urdas, Risa Sato, Bia General <br/>Key addition: Coach Babes Castillo</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/12/15/look-uaap-season-80-volleyball-schedule-34818">LOOK: UAAP Season 80 volleyball schedule</a></li></ul><div><strong>Now what?</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/02/01/babes.jpg"/><figcaption>Babes Castillo is now the one calling the shots for NU. <em>Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></em></figcaption></figure></div><p>To put it simply, it is now or never for NU. This is Santiago&#x27;s final season in the UAAP, and she has yet to lead her team to the finals. They couldn&#x27;t even make the Final 4 last year, despite a dominant campaign from the towering middle blocker.</p><p>NU has reason to be hopeful. They replaced Gorayeb with Babes Castillo, the coach of their high school volleyball team. Santiago should take another step forward after stints in the Philippine Superliga and in the national team.</p><p>Risa Sato, Aiko Urdas, and Jorelle Singh are expected to improve as well, especially after solid campaigns for various club teams. </p><p>But the player who can lift NU back to the upper half of the league standings is Nabor. The young setter showed plenty of promise in Season 79, in just her first full season on the job. Now more experienced and more confident in her skills, Nabor will look to solidify her position as the top playmaker in the league this year.</p><p>&quot;Siguro, mas nag-improve pa &#x27;yung connection namin (ni Jaja),&quot; said Nabor, in what can only be good news for NU&#x27;s fans. &quot;&#x27;Yun po talaga ang tinututukan namin ngayon, tapos &#x27;yung connection din sa ibang teammates.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Isa po &#x27;yan sa advantage namin, kasi Jaja Santiago &#x27;yan eh,&quot; she added.</p><p>Santiago, for her part, is determined that her final year will be different from the past two. </p><p>&quot;First year pa lang ako sa NU, hinahanap-hanap ko na talaga &#x27;yung championship ng UAAP,&quot; said Santiago. &quot;Sa apat na taon na nakalipas, hindi ko nakuha &#x27;yun.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Ngayon, last playing year ko na. Hindi ako papayag na hindi namin makukuha &#x27;yun. Hindi ako makakapayag na ga-graduate ako na wala kaming nakukuha sa UAAP,&quot; she vowed.</p><div><strong>What can we expect?</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/02/01/jaja.jpg"/><figcaption>This is Jaja Santiago&#x27;s last chance to make the UAAP Finals. <em>Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></em></figcaption></figure></div><p>On talent alone, NU should be a shoo-in for the Final 4. They have the most physically intimidating player in the league in Santiago, a vastly improved setter in Nabor, and weapons in virtually all positions. Even the libero position is now solid, as they welcomed back Bia General.</p><p>The question is if the Lady Bulldogs can put it all together. They had similarly talented rosters in the past two years, but fell short of their goals. This time around, it will be coach Castillo who will be trying to bring out the best in NU&#x27;s loaded roster.</p><p>&quot;I have to be optimistic about our team,&quot; said NU assistant coach Aaron Velez, speaking to reporters on Castillo&#x27;s behalf. &quot;Most of our players have been able to get experience from commercial leagues. That&#x27;s going to be an advantage for us, but we still have to work.&quot;</p><p>NU opens its campaign on February 3 against Adamson University.</p><p>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</p>

<p>There's no other way to say it: National University has been extremely disappointing in the past two UAAP seasons. With a new coach on board, can they finally live up to their potential this year?</p>

There's no other way to say it: National University has been extremely disappointing in the past two UAAP seasons. With a new coach on board, can they finally live up to their potential this year?

UAAP Season 80 Preview: NU Lady Bulldogs

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

UAAP Season 80 Preview: NU Lady Bulldogs

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 01, 2018 06:19 AM PHT

Read More:

uaap

uaap season 80

uaap volleyball

nu lady bulldogs

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.