JAJA SANTIAGO UNLOADS 26 POINTS TO LEAD NU PASTS ATENEO
By Ardyn Gonzales
8 February 2017
Reigning Best Attacker Jaja Santiago lorded it over everyone with 26 points as National Universityhanded Ateneo their first loss this season, 25-17, 25-13, 19-25, 29-27, Wednesdayat FilOil Flying-V Arena in San Juan.
Learning from what happened in their match against UE, the Lady Bulldogs came out strong right away, dominating Ateneo in all the skill departments in the first two sets.
But the Lady Eagles fought back and turned things around in the third set as they toyed with the defense of NU which prevented spiker-turned-setter Jasmin Nabor from setting up Santiago in the middle.
Just when Ateneo was about to extend the match with a 22-17 lead in the fourth set, NU came from behind and stole the lead at 24-23. The Lady Eagles were able to save several match points but a crucial service error from team captain Jia Morado followed by a block by Nabor on Mich Morente gave the match in favor of NU.
It was the first time since Season 76 that NU was able to win against Ateneo in the UAAP—a big boost to their confidence as they face the still-winless Adamson on February 12 while Ateneo looks to bounce back against Far Eastern University on the same day, still at San Juan Arena.
Player of the Game: Jasmin Nabor, 8 points and 43 excellent sets.
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