Two games into UAAP Season 86, the NU Lady Bulldogs have yet to look like the championship team they were two seasons ago.
A 1-1 record is not a bad way to start the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
But for a champion team like the NU Lady Bulldogs, victories should come every game they play. It's a natural expectation.
After bowing to the UST Golden Tigresses in straight sets in their opening match, the Lady Bulldogs also found themselves having to grind out a tough five-set victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Lady Bulldogs dodge a bullet, NU survives Ateneo in five-set thriller for first win in Season 86]
While many fans have expressed their concerns with NU’s form as of late, coach Norman Miguel explained why the team has been performing as such in their first two games.
“I think this is unpopular to everybody, [but] for me, sa tingin ko ngayon pa lang nagsta-start magrecover 'yung team,” Miguel said during the post-game press conference on Saturday. “They went to Dipolog to play for the University Games [and] luckily nag-champion, then after that, tuloy tuloy kami sa training, we had a series of practice games against top club teams.”
“We had two wins, and one loss and then continuous pa rin ang training, so para sa akin, I think, medyo kulang pa sa recovery ‘yung team namin that’s why we perform like this,” he added.
For now, Miguel and the rest of the NU coaching staff will focus on the team’s recovery as they also prepare for their upcoming matchups in the tournament.
“I think, ngayon, nakapagrest ng ilang araw, I think yun ang importante samin makapagrest muna,” said Miguel.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: NU focused on redemption for Season 86, says coach Norman Miguel]
But even with their somewhat lackluster performances so far in Season 86, the Lady Bulldogs are more determined than ever to return to their championship form.
“Kailangan din talaga namin pag-trabahuan every game kasi nakikita naman sa performance namin na hindi talaga kami,” said Vange Alinsug, who finished with 19 points in NU’s win over Ateneo.
“Nakita ko naman ngayong game na ito na parang bumabalik na kami. 'Yung fifth set, nakita ko siya and masaya ako,” she added.
Up next for the Lady Bulldogs will be the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, February 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 2:00 p.m.