Push Admin

UAAP volleyball: No panic, just an intervention for NU Lady Bulldogs

Article (news)

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/03/24/nu2.jpg"/><figcaption>The NU Lady Bulldogs huddle after their loss to the UST Golden Tigresses. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – When the first round of the UAAP Season 80 women&#x27;s volleyball tournament ended, the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs appeared to be a lock to make it to the Final 4 for the first time since Season 77.The Lady Bulldogs compiled a 6-1 win-loss record, which included five-set wins over last year&#x27;s finalists, the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles and defending champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers. They responded to a loss to Far Eastern University (FEU) by dismissing University of the Philippines (UP) in their last match of the first round, putting them at the No. 1 spot.No other team was in a better position heading to the second round. After all, NU needed just two more wins to assure themselves of at least a playoff for a semifinal spot.Just three weeks later, NU is in the midst of an absolutely disastrous stretch. They have not won a game in the second round. In fact, they have won a grand total of just two sets in their last four assignments. Ateneo and La Salle exacted revenge on them in dominant fashion, and they were also beaten by Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas (UST).Their last loss to UST was particularly painful. NU showed its poise in rallying to a 25-22 win in the opening set, before falling apart the rest of the way. Their defense was picked apart by Sisi Rondina and Milena Alessandrini, and outside of Jaja Santiago, no other Lady Bulldog could score on a consistent basis.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/03/26/uaap-volleyball-player-of-the-week-deanna-wong-ateneo-39503">UAAP VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Deanna Wong of Ateneo</a></li></ul>The Tigresses went on to win in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-9. The fourth set was a display of NU&#x27;s woes: when Santiago rotated to the back row, they had no one who could produce points, and UST surged to a 13-5 lead. Their defense was always a step slow, and Rondina dismissed their net defense too easily.&quot;Siyempre sobrang nasasaktan na po kami sa nangyayari kasi parang ginagawa na po namin lahat, pero hindi namin alam kung bakit ganoon ang nagiging resulta,&quot; setter Jasmine Nabor said after the game. &quot;Sobrang sakit lang talaga.&quot;<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/03/24/nu1.jpg"/><figcaption>The NU Lady Bulldogs react after their loss to UST. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>The Lady Bulldogs were emotional after the loss, with several players seen shedding tears on the court. Only Nabor deigned to talk to the media after the game, although NU coach Babes Castillo was there to provide perspective as usual.&quot;This is our passion,&quot; the colorful coach told reporters after the game. &quot;I mean, you have to be crucified first. Kaya nga tinatawag siyang passion – mahirap, pero it will transform not only you, but the people around you.&quot;For Castillo, who is in his first year as head coach of the NU women&#x27;s volleyball team, their struggle is part of the journey that the Lady Bulldogs need to take in order to elevate their program.&quot;Ang common mistake ng tao is to think that there is always a quick fix,&quot; he noted. &quot;But in real life, hindi talaga madali. You have to struggle. You have to go through all this pain.&quot;This passion, we are gladly taking it in,&quot; he also said.Castillo has been nothing but a source of positivity for the Lady Bulldogs ever since he took over as the head coach. During timeouts, he makes it a point to motivate the players, exhort them to &quot;move on&quot; from mistakes, and remind them of who they are playing for – NU.He has not lost this positive mindset even as they slumped to their fourth straight defeat, a result saw disappointing that his star players were in tears at the end of the game.&quot;No panic button,&quot; he insists, even as the Lady Bulldogs are just one game ahead of Adamson in the league standings right now, with their 6-5 win-loss record. What the NU players need, said Castillo, is an intervention.&quot;Kailangan may ganoon na,&quot; he said. &quot;Noong nakita niyong umiiyak sila, I never left their side kasi that&#x27;s what I promised them. I will never leave your side.&quot;&quot;We&#x27;ll go through all the pain and victories together,&quot; he added.The good news for NU is that they have 10 days to work on their issues before returning to action on April 4 against UP. The Lady Maroons are struggling almost as much as NU, with three losses in a row. NU is still in a solid position. They need two wins to claim a Final 4 playoff, and their next two games are against struggling squads in UP and University of the East. However, there is no doubt that their recent slump is terrible for a team that was considered as a finals contender heading into the season.Indeed, their second-round collapse is reminiscent of their campaigns in Seasons 78 and 79, when they also got off to good starts only to fall apart in the end, and missing the Final 4 entirely.The Lady Bulldogs can only hope that history will not repeat itself once more for their squad.&quot;Nag-usap-usap kami na hindi pa tapos,&quot; said Nabor. &quot;May chance pa talaga.&quot;&quot;So ang kailangan namin gawin, &#x27;yung sakit na nafi-feel namin, &#x27;yun ang gagawin naming motivation para sa mga next game namin,&quot; she said.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

When the first round of the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament ended, the National University Lady Bulldogs appeared to be a lock to make it to the Final 4 for the first time since Season 77.

When the first round of the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament ended, the National University Lady Bulldogs appeared to be a lock to make it to the Final 4 for the first time since Season 77.

UAAP volleyball: No panic, just an intervention for NU Lady Bulldogs

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

UAAP volleyball: No panic, just an intervention for NU Lady Bulldogs

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 26, 2018 10:02 PM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

UAAP Season 80

UAAP volleyball

NU Lady Bulldogs

Babes Castillo

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.