‘We played really well. I think we got the victory today because of the solid game plan, especially in addressing the matchups that gave us trouble in our first game against UST.’
Leo Ordiales of NU attacks the defense of Josh Ybañez of UST during their UAAP Season 87 Final Four encounter yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Bulldogs prevailed, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23.
Photograph courtesy of UAAP
National University (NU) powered its way to its 10th consecutive University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s volleyball finals appearance after sweeping University of Santo Tomas (UST), 25-23, 25-23, 25-23, in the Final Four of Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After stumbling in their previous match, the second-seeded Bulldogs fully utilized their twice-to-beat advantage to rewrite UAAP history and book a best-of-three finals duel with Far Eastern University.
Game 1 is set on Sunday also at the same venue.
NU’s win not only avenged their four-set loss to UST in Game 2 but also broke the Golden Spikers’ record of nine straight finals appearances from Seasons 57 to 65.
NU now holds the longest finals streak in UAAP men’s volleyball history — and matches De La Salle University’s women’s team for the longest across all collegiate divisions with 10 straight.
Adding to UST’s heartbreak, the Bulldogs eliminated the España-based squad for the third consecutive year, having previously crushed its title dreams in the finals of Seasons 85 and 86.
“For me, I had a hard time sleeping last night because I was overthinking a lot,” said Leo Ordiales, who led all scorers with 20 points.
“I just kept telling myself to stay positive so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed. I was excited, but I tried to stay calm — and thankfully, I was able to bring out my best game.”
UST stayed close throughout the match, including a gritty third set where they tied the score at 21-all behind key hits from Gboy de Vega and Al Bukharie Sali.
But NU remained composed.
After a 23-all deadlock due to a Greg Ancheta double contact violation, Buds Buddin and Jade Disquitado delivered clutch hits to seal the win.
The second set also featured a late NU rally as the Bulldogs turned a 21-23 deficit into a 25-23 win with a momentum-shifting 4-0 run — capped by Buddin’s off-the-block strike, a Choi Diao block on Josh Ybañez, and a costly UST attack error.
“It’s all thanks to my players for this win,” NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin said.
“We played really well. I think we got the victory today because of the solid game plan, especially in addressing the matchups that gave us trouble in our first game against UST.”
Disquitado added 14 points, 13 of which came off attacks, while Buddin, who returned from a two-game absence due to an ankle sprain, chipped in seven points and nine receptions. Ancheta orchestrated NU’s offense with 18 excellent sets.
On the other hand, the loss denied UST a chance at redemption after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Instead, the Golden Spikers settled for a bronze-medal — their first since Season 77 in 2015.
Ybañez led UST with 13 points, 13 receptions, and five digs. De Vega closed out his Season 87 campaign with 11 points and 16 receptions, while Trevor Valera and Jay Rack De La Noche contributed nine and eight points, respectively.
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