NU’s Chamy Maaya celebrates throughout a win over FEU within the UAAP Season 87 girls’s volleyball Ultimate 4.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines — Nationwide College flaunted its frontline depth as Chams Maaya and Alexa Mata stepped as much as assist the defending champion rally previous gritty Far Japanese College to advance to its fourth straight UAAP girls’s volleyball finals.
The Woman Bulldogs, stacked with proficient wing spikers, proved they’ve a stable center blocker rotation as nicely to stave off the Woman Tamaraws, 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15, on Saturday at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
READ: UAAP: Belen, Solomon take cost as NU avoids Ultimate 4 deja vu vs FEU
Chams Maaya and Alexa Mata after stepping up within the Ultimate 4 for NU. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/o1YdNxzaYE
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) Could 3, 2025
After Maaya highlighted her 13-point effort with 5 blocks within the first two units, NU turned to its different center blockers Mata and Sheena Toring to carry the fort within the final three units. Mata tallied eight factors together with clutch fast assaults and blocks whereas Toring chipped in 5 factors to ship FEU packing.
“Our mindset helped so much, particularly after we middles step up, significantly in blocking. That’s actually essential. A staff can’t win if just some are doing the work—all of us have to maneuver and contribute,” Mata instructed reporters in Filipino.
Mata stated she wouldn’t have been capable of do it if Maaya didn’t set the tone.
“Cham Cham’s vitality is tremendous necessary. When nobody brings that form of vibe, it’s robust on the market. Her function is admittedly important, and her vitality is contagious. So once I received subbed in, I made positive to offer them the identical form of vitality she introduced,” she stated.
Maaya knew Mata and others would step up though she was benched within the the rest of the match.
READ: UAAP: NU Woman Bulldogs return to finals, rally previous FEU
“I do know my teammates nicely. Even when we’re down two units, we’re going to maintain combating,” stated Maaya. “Our aim was to complete it already so we are able to get sufficient time to relaxation and put together for the finals.”
Setter Lams Lamina, who had 26 glorious units, credited their win to the boldness of her center blockers to ask for the ball.
“My middles actually made a huge impact—and that every one begins with our passing. I’m joyful as a result of all of them have been truly asking for the ball. That made my job so much simpler since they have been consistently calling for it, so it was easy for me to set them up and that made issues easier for them too,” Lamina stated.
NU might be examined within the finals in opposition to a high blocking and taller La Salle facet of their best-of-three collection starting Sunday.
Maaya and Mata promise to remain prepared and carry on contributing.
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“We have to begin robust and contribute collectively,” Maaya stated.
“Level by level, we should carry on pushing,” Mata added.
