The NU Lady Bulldogs in the SSL National Invitationals. Handout/Shakey's Super League

MANILA (UPDATED) -- National University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran will meet in the semifinals of the 2024 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals.

The two squads took care of business against their respective opponents in the knockout quarterfinals of the preseason tournament on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

After giving his veterans a day off on Friday, NU coach Norman Miguel fielded the likes of Bella Belen and Arah Panique in a quick 25-11, 25-12, 25-14 sweep of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation. The Lady Bulldogs improved to 3-0 in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Lady Knights had to weather a late third set scare by University of Batangas before hacking out a 25-22, 25-10, 25-23 win to move on to the next round.

NU and Letran will square off in the knockout semis on Sunday at 2 p.m.         

READ: NU, FEU advance to next round

Sheena Toring led the way for NU with 10 points on seven attacks and three kill blocks in just two sets of action while Belen and Panique added six markers each in their last game before joining Alas Pilipinas in its Japan training camp.

Myrtle Escanlar and Kaye Bombita scored nine markers each and combined for 16 of the 44 attack points collected by NU, which has yet to drop a set.

Despite the easy win, Miguel was far from satisfied with the two-time SSL Collegiate Preseason Championship winner and reigning UAAP champion.

"We still need to work on our passing and blocking. And also in our connections, especially ‘yung chemistry ng rookies sa mga seniors nila," Miguel said.    

No player from the Cebu-based USPF reached double-figure output with Dya Mejos and Kaye Bunao finishing with seven and five points, respectively.

In the second game, Judiel Nitura pushed Letran at match point, 24-23, with a thunderous off the block kill.

But the Lady Brahmans refused to go down without a fight as Kylie Macatangay answered with a down the line hit followed by a Lyzel Dela Pena tip.

Macatangay drew the Batanguenas closer, 24-23, after landing an ace only for Gia Maquilang to close it out for Letran with a sharp crosscourt kill to cap her 16-point outing.

Maquilang pounded 12 kills with three aces and a kill block for an all-around offensive display for the Lady Knights, who also drew 10 points from Nizelle Martin and nine from Lea Tapang.

Macatangay led UB with 11 points off nine attacks and two service winners.     

Far Eastern University claimed one of the two remaining semifinals seats after a thrilling 25-13, 18-25, 16-25, 25-18, 15-10 win over the University of Santo Tomas.

Jean Asis led two other Lady Tamaraws in double figures with 17 points anchored on 11 kills, five kill blocks and an ace. Lovely Lopez scored all her 13 points from hits including the game-winning spike while Chenie Tagaod added 11 markers for FEU.

Maturity and experience spelled the difference for the Lady Tamaraws as they kept the rookie-laden Golden Tigresses at bay in the deciding frame.

FEU erected an 11-5 lead in the fifth set and easily quelled a brief uprising by UST when it closed the gap to just three points. The Tigresses saved two match points before Lopez sealed it with a hit.

The Lady Tamaraws will take on the winner between College of Saint Benilde and Enderun Colleges, still playing as of press time, in the semis.

UST, which got 20 points from Marga Altea, 14 from Kyla Corodora and 10 from Mary Joe Coronado, saw the end of its campaign.