NU recovers with shutout of FEU

By Josiah Albelda Posted Dec 15th 2013

In a match full of errors, having the Santiago sisters by your side makes all the difference.

Dindin and Jaja Santiago carried National University on their slender shoulders as the Lady Bulldogs pulled away to beat Far Eastern University in straight sets in the 76th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Dindin delivered 20 and Jaja posted 12 points in the Lady Bulldogs’ 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 romp over the Lady Tamaraws to grab solo second place with a 3-1 record to end 2013.

The older Santiago delivered 15 kills, four aces and a block while rookie Jaja came through with what was easily the best game of her young UAAP collegiate career with 11 hits.

But both teams played generally disappointing volleyball throughout the match, with the two squads combining for 55 unforced errors.

Unfortunately for FEU, they didn’t have the scoring the Santiago sisters brought to the table and the blocking that gave NU six points to the Lady Tamaraws’ none.

Rookie Charm Simborio rebounded with 10 points, but Rem Palma and Bernadeth Pons – who led FEU in their rout over University of the Philippines – were neutralized by the Lady Bulldogs and just finished with a combined 12 markers.

The loss ended the year for the Lady Tamaraws with a 2-2 card.