NATIONAL University primed up to its much-awaited Finals rematch with La Salle with a 25-13, 25-19, 25-16 rout of University of the East in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena yesterday.

All 12 regular rotation players entered in by coach Norman Miguel scored two points or more as the Lady Bulldogs extended their winning run to five heading to their Saturday showdown with the back-to-back title seeking Lady Spikers.

“Masaya kami kasi nagko-continue yung winning streak tapos na-field in lahat ng mga players namin and then nag-perform at nag-contribute ng points,” said Miguel.

Later, La Salle moved in a tie with NU in second place at 5-1 following a 25-15, 25-17, 25-18 dispatching of University of the Philippines.

Former MVP Bella Belen, who had another solid all-around outing of 11 points, 10 digs and five receptions, was delighted to see the Lady Bulldogs work as a team in the one-hour, 22-minute match.

“We’re really happy kasi nakita po namin lahat kayang magcontribute sa team and yung team naman po kasi namin, we’re not building a star player, gusto namin lahat kami paangat, gusto namin wala pong maiiwan,” said Belen.

Vange Alinsug logged nine points while Nigeria’s Aishat Bello tallied three of NU’s six blocks to finish with seven points.

Alyssa Solomon had 4-of-7 spikes for a five-point outing before sitting out in the last two sets while Kaye Bombita and Arah Panique, the Lady Bulldogs’ building blocks for the future, also scored five points.

Camilla Lamina and her understudy Abe Pono took turns in orchestrating plays for NU with a combined 17 excellent sets.

Casiey Dongallo had 11 points, while Riza Nogales and Khy Cepada chipped in six and five points, respectively, for the Lady Warriors, who dropped to 1-5.

Despite another routine three-set win, assistant coach Noel Orcullo wanted to see more improvement on the Lady Spikers in their face off with the Lady Bulldogs.

“Although straight sets, nakukulangan pa rin kami sa galaw nila, kailangan pang i-polish going to NU’s game next week. We have to work on our lapses, lahat ng dapat icorrect. Kailangan yung connection nandoon pa rin,” said Orcullo.

Reigning MVP Angel Canino, who had 16 points, seven digs and four receptions, wanted to see La Salle on the same page in their first round finale.

“I think yung skills namin nandiyan na po. Yung kulang na lang po talaga ay yung connection saka yung communication namin inside kasi everything was given to us already so I think yun po talaga ang kailangan namin iwork on pa,” said Canino.

The Fighting Maroons remained winless in five matches.

Meanwhile, men’s titleholder NU and La Salle forced a three-way tie with idle Far Eastern University in first place at 5-1 after sweeping separate foes.

The Bulldogs brushed off a sluggish start to dispose UE, 25-23, 25-13, 25-12, while the Green Spikers extended their winning run to four following a 25-23, 25-13, 25-22 conquest of UP.

With its fifth straight victory after a season-opening loss to UST, NU is now flashing its deadly form that coach Dante Alinsunurin wanted to see with his team.

“Maganda yung pinakita namin ngayon, nasunod yung game plan namin kung paano kami makakastop at paano kami makabalik ng laro kapag marami kaming unforced error,” said Alinsunurin after the 69-minute clash.

Rwenzmel Taguibolos had seven blocks and had 5-of-5 attacks to finish with 13 points to back up fellow first-year player Jade Disquitado’s match-best 15 points for the Bulldogs. Owa Retamar tossed in 21 excellent sets.

Vince Maglinao had 14 points and 10 receptions as the Green Spikers needed only 68 minutes to deal the Fighting Maroons a fifth consecutive straight-set defeat.

“Talagang we see to it na tapusin namin nang ganito. Not to belittle UP but yun yung gusto ng team eh, kailangan makapondo kami ngayong first round,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque after the 68-minute match.

The Red Warriors remained at the bottom of the standings at 0-6.