Win or go home for UST, NU

Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. — UST vs NU (m)

It’s going to be a dramatic battle as National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) dispute the last finals berth in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s volleyball finals today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Action starts at 2 p.m. with the second-seeded Bulldogs putting their five-peat aspirations on the line against the No. 3 Golden Spikers, who are eager to return to the finals for the third consecutive year despite entering the Final Four without a twice-to-beat advantage.

In the first game of the series, UST displayed remarkable resilience to edge NU, 26-24, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18, in a contest that saw the Golden Spikers recover from a third-set meltdown to book the victory.

With the series now tied at 1-1, the survivor in the do-or-die match will earn the right to face top-seeded Far Eastern University (FEU) in a best-of-three championship series, which begins on Sunday.

NU coach Dante Alinsunurin reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging the Bulldogs’ overconfidence in the opening game.

“We were too confident in the match. That was really our problem. We played well in the first two sets, but we allowed ourselves to get into a tough spot when we relaxed,” Alinsunurin said.

“But as I always say, even in defeat, there’s still a chance to recover.”

Alinsunurin stressed the need for his players to show more focus and urgency in the crucial rubber match.

“They need to show the right attitude and commitment if they want to win for NU,” he added.

Meanwhile, UST coach Odjie Mamon is focusing on getting his team physically and mentally prepared for the must-win game.

“The team that recovers and prepares the best in a short amount of time will advance to the Finals,” Mamon said.

“We will definitely build on our momentum and prepare for this game.”

One of UST’s standout performers in Game 1 was Gboy de Vega, who contributed 14 points and was a key factor in the Golden Spikers’ success.

De Vega, who had a limited role during the eliminations, proved himself as a reliable offensive option alongside two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Josh Ybañez and Jay Rack de la Noche.