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NU focuses on health as Lady Bulldogs zero in on UAAP title defense vs La Salle


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Defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs aim to avoid accidents and injuries as they seek to win their third UAAP women’s volleyball title in four years

MANILA, Philippines – Health will be the NU Lady Bulldogs’ utmost priority ahead of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finale. 

Following a grueling five-set win against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, the defending champions aim to stay in top shape for their best-of-three title clash against the La Salle Lady Spikers starting on May 11 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I told them that we need to go over the next week with great preparation, less injury, and no accidents,” NU head coach Sherwin Meneses said in Filipino as the Lady Bulldogs pulled off a reverse sweep in eliminating the fourth-seeded Lady Tamaraws en route to the finals for the fourth straight season. 

“We should be healthy when we get to the finals so we can have a bigger chance to defend the crown for NU,” Meneses added. 

NU knows how one injury can severely affect a team.

Last season, the Lady Bulldogs pounced on a UST Golden Tigresses side that saw star Angge Poyos go down with an ankle injury as NU swept the finals for its second championship in three years.

For NU ace Bella Belen, who has never missed the finals throughout her collegiate career, the title series requires the Lady Bulldogs to be at peak condition in order to fulfill their ultimate target. 

“When it comes to the finals, everything is back to zero. So whoever wants it more wins it,” Belen said. 

“Today, we will recover our bodies and then go back to the drawing board to see what we did right and improve on our mistakes,” Belen added. 

The league MVP in their two previous championship runs in Seasons 84 and 86, Belen looks to lead NU to its fifth women’s volleyball crown in what is expected to be her final hurrah for the Lady Bulldogs.

“As a senior, the fire should come from us so our teammates can see that their ates and I should not be tired until we win,” Belen said. 

Meanwhile, Meneses urged his players to stay sharp in the finals, especially as the Lady Spikers pose a formidable challenge after winning their last two games. 

“The fight is not over. The real goal is to defend the crown. We will enjoy a bit after the Final Four and then work again to defend the crown,” Meneses said. – Rappler.com

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