National University may be ushering in a post–Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon era, but the Lady Bulldogs wasted little time showing they remain firmly in the UAAP title hunt.
Behind steady leadership from team captain Vange Alinsug and timely contributions from a retooled cast, the NU Lady Bulldogs opened their UAAP Season 88 campaign with a hard-earned four-set victory over the UST Golden Tigresses on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena—a performance that underscored continuity over star power.
Rather than wilt after surrendering much of last season’s firepower, NU leaned into structure, discipline, and trust. The Lady Bulldogs surged to a 2–0 set lead before weathering a third-set comeback sparked by UST’s Angge Poyos and rookie Julia Balingit. When momentum threatened to swing, NU responded with composure, closing the door in the fourth set to secure a confidence-boosting opening-day win.
For Alinsug, the result validated the program’s ability to regenerate without losing its competitive edge. She emphasized that the team stayed mentally locked in, knowing that extending the match further would favor UST. More importantly, she pointed to how new faces seamlessly stepped into defined roles—an encouraging sign for a squad navigating transition.
While NU’s veterans provided stability, the spotlight belonged to rookie Sam Cantada, whose 21-point debut injected energy and belief into the Lady Bulldogs’ new chapter. Cantada’s scoring burst during a crucial fourth-set run proved decisive, earning praise from Alinsug, who expressed pride in the teenager’s poise and hunger in high-pressure moments.
Now under head coach Regine Diego, NU’s core of experienced holdovers—supported by emerging talents—appears intent on preserving the program’s championship identity. The emphasis, Alinsug stressed, is consistency: sustaining effort, decision-making, and collective trust as the season unfolds.
The Lady Bulldogs will be tested again on Wednesday, February 18, when they face the Adamson Lady Falcons at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. Adamson, also coming off an opening win, presents another early measuring stick in a season where NU is proving that evolution does not mean decline.
If the opener was any indication, the Lady Bulldogs’ next era has already begun—and it looks anything but tentative.