S87 Collegiate Volleyball: Finals match-ups set

Games on Sunday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m. – FEU vs NU (Men's Finals)
5 p.m. – NU vs DLSU (Women's Finals)

NATIONAL University and De La Salle will break the tie in the UAAP women's volleyball Finals trilogy as Game 1 of the best-of-three series begins on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs won their first meeting in UAAP Season 84 (2022) that ended a 65-year championship drought via a 16-0 season sweep, before the Lady Spikers bounced back by winning the title in Season 85 (2023).

De La Salle was eliminated in the Final Four last season by University of Santo Tomas, which lost to National University in the Finals, but it was able to return in the championship round this year despite a challenging campaign.

The Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Spikers meet again in the league's biggest stage, starting at 5 p.m., with the winner gaining the needed momentum in the short series. The previous two NU-De La Salle showdowns ended with sweeps.

Eyeing to give the Lady Spikers a 13th championship, coach Ramil de Jesus knows that adequate preparation will be the key to prevailing over the Lady Bulldogs, who are seeking their first back-to-back title run in school history.

"Kilala naman natin yung NU. Talagang since high school, magkakasama na yung mga yan. And then, talagang sobrang lalim nung experience nila sa isa't isa," said De Jesus, as De La Salle girds up for a 21st Finals appearance.

"So, siguro sa amin, ano talagang paghandaan lang namin. And then, marami pa akong dapat i-ayos sa team, eh. So, siguro, kung may lalabas nila yung in-expect ko sa kanila, and makasabay kami, and magkaroon ng chance—at malaki ‘yung chance," he added.

("We all know NU. They've been together since high school. And they really have a deep connection and experience with one another. So for us, we really just need to prepare. There’s still a lot I need to fix with the team. But if they can show what I expect from them, if we can keep up—and we definitely have a big chance.")

De Jesus was satisfied with the way the Lady Spikers performed in their Final Four conquest of the Tigresses, and he believes that his troops have something left in their sleeves to bring back the title to Taft.

Angel Canino and Shevana Laput will lead the way for De La Salle, with rookie playmaker Mikole Reyes hoping to brush off jitters to prove why she was trusted by De Jesus as the starting setter.

Gunning for a first UAAP championship, Sherwin Meneses, a seven-time PVL champion coach for Creamline, wanted his team to be fit and healthy in the Finals series.

The Lady Bulldogs are eyeing to give reigning MVP Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon a fitting send-off before going to the next level, with crafty setter Lams Lamina orchestrating plays.

"Siyempre, yung advantage ng seniors na samin pero sabi ko nga sa kanila is kailangan malagpasan natin yung one week nating preparation na less injury, less na madisgrasya kahit papaano," said Meneses.

"Dapat healthy kami pagpasok ng finals para mas malaki yung chances na ma-defend yung crown. So yun nga, hindi pa tapos yung laban. Siguro talagang pagtatrabahuan muna namin na makuha-- ma-defend yung crown ng NU," he added.

("Of course, we have the advantage of having seniors, but as I told them, we need to overcome the one-week preparation with minimal injuries or setbacks. We need to be healthy entering the Finals to increase our chances of defending the crown. So yeah, the battle isn't over yet. We really have to work hard to retain NU's crown.")

The Lady Bulldogs may have swept the Lady Spikers in their elimination round head-to-head, but the Finals are a different story.

In the men's division, five-peat seeking NU and Far Eastern University open their best-of-three title series at 1 p.m.

With a new breed of Bulldogs led by Buds Buddin and Leo Aringo hoping to sustain their dynasty, coach Dante Alinsunurin knows that it is important to carry the same mindset that carried them in the last four Championships.

"Continue lang talaga yung ginagawa namin kung anong mindset namin every game, every practice at kung ano pa yung adjustment sa game, pagaaralan pa rin namin kung anong dapat gawin kahit dalawang beses na namin nakalaban," said Alinsunurin.

("We just have to continue what we've been doing—our mindset in every game, every practice. And even if we’ve already faced them twice, we’ll still study what needs to be adjusted.")

The Tamaraws, who are making their first Finals stint since UAAP Season 81 (2019), have not won the championship since 2019.

FEU, the only team that beat NU this season, will turn to its chemistry and bonding, which is what coach Eddieson Orcullo put together.

"Dapat nakafocus kami sa present, kung paano namin haharapin yung Finals. Yung mabigyan ako ng opportunity na maupo ako sa puwesto ko ngayon, laking bagay na ‘eh. Siguro, walang titigil, ‘yon naman ‘yon ‘eh. Tatrabahuin pa namin, tutal nandito naman yung mga bata. Trabaho, trabaho, trabaho," said Orcullo, who is on his second season manning the Tamaraws sidelines.

"Tsaka pinakaimporante kasi yung volleyball sa amin, parang ‘yon yung hininga namin. Pag walang volleyball, parang kulang yung araw namin. Kaya siguro gumagaan yung trabaho namin dahil mahal namin yung isa’t-isa," he added.

("We have to focus on the present, on how we’ll face the Finals. The opportunity given to me to be in this position means a lot. And really, we’re not going to stop. That’s it. We’ll keep working because the players are already here. Work, work, work. And what’s most important is that volleyball is like our lifeline. Without volleyball, our day feels incomplete. Maybe that’s why the work feels lighter—because we love each other.")

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team