IT WILL take a capable, qualified and homegrown heir apparent to the reign of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon in National University’s (NU) pecking order. And the Lady Bulldogs may just have found her in Vange Alinsug.
A star of the powerhouse NU-Nazareth School like her seniors, Ms. Alinsug stepped up to the plate to showcase her readiness for that leadership role following a big-time performance in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finals.
Ms. Alinsug, a third-year player tasked to inherit NU’s torch from the graduating duo of Mses. Belen and Solomon, turned in a team-high 21 points on 21 hits in Game 1 as NU made short work of rival La Salle, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, to bolster its back-to-back bid.
And while others were surprised to see her erupt after serving as third fiddle in NU’s Big 3, Ms. Alinsug proved that no stage is too bright for the always game-ready spiker that she is.
“Hindi po naman po ito first time sa akin at sa amin,” she said, having been with Mses. Belen and Solomon all throughout her championship-studded career from high school to college.
“Ang mindset lang namin ay maglaro kung ano ‘yung nilalaro namin talaga at nag-start yun sa training. Happy ako na naipakita namin ‘yun sa Game 1.”
Her big sisters could not be prouder and more grateful, taking comfort in the prospect of passing on the Lady Bulldogs program to good hands after their inevitable departure.
“Sobrang proud ako kay Vange kasi nakikita ko ko every training talaga, pinagta-trabahuhan niya. Kasi lagi kong sinasabi na, training palang start na ng competition so ‘yun ang lalabas sa laro mo,” said Ms. Solomon, last season’s Finals MVP.
“Kilalang-kilala na namin kasi ‘yung kada isa. I’m very happy lang kasi may naiiwan kami sa mga bata. Marami pang susunod sa amin so ito sana may maiwan kaming maganda,” added two-time Season MVP Belen.
With Mses. Belen and Solomon at the helm, the Lady Bulldogs have made it to four straight finals with a potential to clinch a third title. Ms. Alinsug is up next and will seek to extend that championship run to cement
a looming NU dynasty.
Ms. Alinsug is more than ready to embrace the bigger role and the tougher challenge without her big sisters but for now, NU needs to care of business and clinch the title.
“Tuloy-tuloy lang kami. Ngayon may two days kami para makuha ulit ‘yung Game 2,” she said. — John Bryan Ulanday
