The NU Lady Bulldogs in the Finals of the 2024 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals, July 15, 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/SSL

MANILA -- National University showcased its championship poise in outlasting Far Eastern University in Game 1 of the 2024 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals best-of-three finals, Monday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

The Lady Bulldogs recovered from a blip in the fourth set to claim a hard-earned win, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13, over the Lady Tamaraws.

Veterans Bella Belen and Erin Pangilinan rallied the Lady Bulldogs back from two points down early in the fifth set before Alexa Mata and Myrtle Escanlar put on the finishing touches to push NU closer to annexing another crown after ruling the first two editions of the Collegiate Preseason Championship.

Belen, a two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, torched FEU for 26 points on 24 kills and two blocks, while Arah Panique added 15 points, Pagilinan chipped in 14 markers and Escanlar added 13 points including the game-winning offspeed hit for the reigning UAAP champion.

READ: NU Lady Bulldogs cruise to finals of SSL Nat'l Invitationals

"I'm very happy na despite wala si Ate Sheena (Toring), Ate Aly (Solomon) and Vange (Alinsug) and other teammates ko na 'di nakapaglaro, may mga rookies and mga teammates ko na talagang nag-step up na tinulungan yung team para manalo today," Belen said.  

After winning the fourth set comfortably, FEU surged to a 7-5 advantage in the decider before Belen and Pangilinan sparked a 4-0 counterattack to put National U ahead. 

The Lady Tamaraws knotted the count at 12, only for Mata to score two straight points to put the Lady Bulldogs at match point. An attack error by Belen from a backrow hit kept FEU alive, but Escanlar took care of business in the next rally with a soft touch.

Jean Asis had 23 points to pace the Lady Tamaraws. Chenie Tagaod had 19 points while Gerzel Petallo and Jazzlyn Ellarina posted 11 and 10 points, respectively, for FEU.  

In the battle for the bronze medal, College of Saint Benilde fought back from a set down to frustrate Letran, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-17, and own Game 1 of their own best-of-3 series.

The CSB Lady Blazers in the battle for third place of the 2024 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals, July 15, 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Handout/SSL

The Lady Blazers shook off a rusty start before finding their groove to reassert their mastery over the same rival they defeated in the group stage.

CSB can close the series with another win over its NCAA Season 99 finals victim on Tuesday.

Opposite spiker Clydel Catarig scattered 22 points on an efficient 22-of-52 spiking clip to lead the Lady Blazers, who took advantage of the Lady Knights' 27 errors to bounce back from a painful straight-sets loss to Far Eastern University in the knockout semifinal on Sunday.

Welyn Estoque added 15 points off nine kills, three kill blocks and three aces while Rhea Densing added 12 markers with 11 coming for spikes for CSB.

The Lady Blazers took control of the match after regrouping in the second set.

Smelling blood after a dominating third frame, CSB raced to an early lead in the fourth frame that ballooned to 11 after Jessa Dorog pound a kill that pushed the Lady Blazers at match point, 24-13.             

Back-to-back CSB errors followed by consecutive hits by Gia Maquilang kept Letran in the game before Dorog halted the Lady Knights' run with a finishing crosscourt hit.

Maquilang finished with 19 points to lead the Lady Knights. Judiel Nitura had 12 markers while Lea Tapang scored eight in a losing effort for Letran.