NU Lady Bulldogs during a game against La Salle Lady Spikers in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Despite getting swept by unbeaten La Salle in the title series opener, National University coach Regine Diego urged her Lady Bulldogs to keep their heads high as they try to save their “three-peat” bid in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Finals when Game 2 is played on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs lost early control in the first set and then went down easily after that as the Lady Spikers shook off the cobwebs of a 17-day break before posting a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 victory and inching closer to regaining championship glory they last tasted three years ago.

It may be frustrating, but Diego told her wards to stay confident heading into the do-or-die Game 2.

“I told them to keep their heads high because it’s not the end,” Diego said. “If we get too emotional about this loss, it’ll be harder for us to move forward.

“We just have to keep working so we can fight until the end,” Diego went on. “Of course, it’s upsetting, but we need to focus more on preparing rather than feeding in the negative atmosphere. We’re still confident heading into the next game.”

The Lady Bulldogs dropped Game 1 of the Finals for the first time since Season 85, when they lost the championship to La Salle, which debuted a superstar who won Rookie-MVP, Angel Canino, that year.

There has been no Game 3 played in the women’s title series since the Season 81 championship between Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas in 2019.

Arah Panique led NU with 18 points, Vange Alinsug backstopped her with 12, while top rookie Sam Cantada was a missing piece after struggling in her Finals debut with two points on a 1-of-18 attacking clip.

“I feel overwhelmed. It’s my first time,” Cantada said in Filipino. “But the (senior players) are there to guide me.

“I think it’s normal, especially for a first-timer like me,” she added.

Despite receiving a rude welcome in her finals debut, Cantada vowed to bounce back.

“We just keep reminding ourselves that it’s not over yet. This isn’t finished,” said Cantada. “I’ll try to rebuild my confidence starting in training, because that’s really where everything begins.”

Diego, a former player of coach Ramil De Jesus at La Salle, admitted it will be tough to stop the Lady Spikers in close-out games, but she’s confident that her Lady Bulldogs will bounce back.

Diego wants premium on composure, which was evidently missing from her team in Game 1.

“We have to learn that we can’t stop playing, especially in moments when we already have the lead,” Diego said. “We were close at the end, but we just couldn’t finish it.

“Everything in a championship series is more mental than physical. Skills are already pretty even,” she added.