NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate their Game 1 win over La Salle Lady Spikers in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship. –AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — National University picked the perfect time to dent La Salle’s unbeaten armor with a 25-16, 25-12, 27-25 triumph in Game 1 of the best-of-three title series in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs turned to the lethal tandem of Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen to inch a win closer to their third straight SSL Pre-season Championship.

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NU tries to sweep La Salle in Game 2 on Sunday, seeking to complete a ‘three-peat’ and sweep the 2024 season after ruling the National Invitationals last July

READ: Bulldogs, Lady Spikers renew bitter feud for preseason crown

Reigning two-time MVP Solomon led the charge with 14 points, while Belen added 10 points in two sets played as NU bounced back from a four-set loss to La Salle that ended its 28-game unbeaten run dating back to the inaugural season in 2022.

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“Of course, this is a championship, so La Salle will really fight because they’re a champion team as well. The break went in our favor in the third set, so we’re thankful that we got Game 1,” said NU coach Sherwin Meneses, who is aiming for his first title with the Lady Bulldogs.

NU Lady Bulldogs’ Alyssa Solomon in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship. –AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER

“We’ll review our lapses carefully to minimize our errors for Game 2, but we’re happy to have secured the win.”

In the rematch of the 2022 preseason finals and UAAP Seasons 84 and 85 championships, the Lady Bulldogs dominated the first two sets against the Lady Spikers,.

However, last year’s National Invitationals champion La Salle pushed its rival to its limits in the third set fighting back from a 7-14 deficit with Shevana Laput and Angel Canino forcing a tie at 22-all.

READ: Shakey’s Super League: La Salle stands in the way of NU’s 3-peat bid

Aleiah Malaluan committed a crucial service error that brought back NU ahead but Canino drilled a through-the-block kill followed by Lilay Del Castillo’s spike off a floating ball for the match point, 24-23.

Solomon saved a point for the Lady Bulldogs but Laput delivered back-to-back kills to regain the lead for the Lady Spikers. However, her second kill was ruled outside after a referee’s video challenge, reversing the call that put NU at match point, 26-25.

Vange Alinsug delivered the game-winning off-speed to end the game in an hour and 46 minutes.

“I noticed that our team got a bit complacent and relaxed during that time, especially when we had a big lead in the third set. Suddenly, La Salle took advantage of our relaxation. But after that, we reminded each other that we need to keep pushing because La Salle wasn’t letting up,” said Solomon.

The reigning UAAP champions’ second unit stepped up to set the tone of another lopsided frame before Solomon mounted a 20-10 spread and never looked back for a commanding 2-0 lead.

Alinsug finished with seven points, while setter Lams Lamina emerged as the Player of the Game after providing brilliant playmaking for the Lady Bulldogs.

Laput was the lone double-digit scorer for La Salle with 12 points off 10 kills, one block, and an ace. Canino was limited to just eight points, scoring five of them in the third frame.

The Lady Spikers hope to win Game 2 to force a decider next week.