MANILA, Philippines – After a truly disappointing campaign in Season 78, can the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs bounce back and finally live up to their full potential in Season 79?

Season 78 record: 7-7

Season 78 summary: There is no way to sugarcoat it: Season 78 was an absolute disappointment for NU. A team that had the potential to play in the Finals and win in the championship did not even qualify to the Final Four, as the Lady Bulldogs succumbed to a series of brutal losses behind uninspired and lackluster play.

They arguably peaked too early. NU stunned De La Salle University in just their third game of the season, and after that game the Lady Bulldogs expressed confidence that this might be the year they can break the stranglehold that La Salle and Ateneo de Manila University have on the Finals.

Unfortunately for NU, it was not to be. A heartbreaking five-set loss to University of Santo Tomas – which saw them squander a two-set cushion – sent them into a spiral. Coach Roger Gorayeb was often at a loss to explain his team's subpar play, and he struggled to find a line-up that could best maximize the attacking talents of Jaja Santiago and Myla Pablo.

NU rotated three setters all season long, all of whom are now out of the line-up. They salvaged a measure of pride with wins over University of the Philippines and UST in the second round, but were crushed by La Salle in their final game.

Key losses: Rica Diolan, Ivy Perez, Myla Pablo, Jocelyn Soliven

Key returnees: Jaja Santiago, Jasmine Nabor

Key addition: Risa Sato

• READ: Hindi ko sila papayagan sa national team tryouts -- Gorayeb

Projection: The NU Lady Bulldogs enter Season 79 with high hopes. They believe they finally have the right setter in sophomore Jasmine Nabor, who was converted into a playmaker full time in the offseason, and responded by helping the team win the championship in the V-League Collegiate Conference.

They will still have the towering Jaja Santiago, arguably the best collegiate player in the country today. Santiago brings with her a wealth of experience from a busy offseason, which saw her compete in regional and international tournaments while getting noticed by coaches of world-class teams.

Moreover, they will finally have Fil-Japanese middle blocker Risa Sato, who showed what she was capable of during the preseason. Aiko Urdas appears to have fully recovered from her knee injury, and Jorelle Singh should be much improved as well.

The question for NU, as it has been for a couple of seasons now, is whether they can put it all together and play to the considerable potential of their line-up. On paper, they are a surefire Finals contender, but as the cliché goes, games are not won on paper.

What they said: "Ayaw ko din mag-predict. Siyempre, step by step pa rin naman ang process. Sa nakikita ko sa team namin ngayon, pursigido talaga na makapasok sa semifinals or sa finals. Basta, step by step kami ngayon." – Jaja Santiago.

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