Greg Ancheta may have been NU’s starting playmaker, but he was far from alone in helping the Bulldogs earn their place within the UAAP history books.
Ahead of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, it became apparent that Greg Ancheta would be given the keys to steer National University’s championship-winning offense.
However, it also meant that the homegrown setter would have to meet a heavy set of expectations within Jhocson, starting with the task of extending National U’s modern-day dynasty in the UAAP men’s volleyball scene.
There was also the need to replace one Owa Retamar in the starting six, a two-time Best Setter and Finals Most Valuable Player who anchored the Bulldogs’ title runs in Seasons 85 and 86.
“Sa akin siguro, nasa isip ko na lang talaga, kasi the time na grumaduate si Kuya Owa, ako na lang ‘yung natirang setter. Tapos ‘yung second setter talaga nung Season 86, si Kuya Clarenz Belostrino, pinili niya talagang tapusin ‘yung pag-aaral niya,” Ancheta told The GAME in an exclusive interview.
Understandably, the work was cut out for Ancheta once National U was done celebrating their title romp in Season 86. Only in his second year, he was likely to go from a third-stringer into a potential starter who needed to steer a title-winning offense into another UAAP championship.
“After nung championship ng May, pagdating ng June, ako lang ‘yung mag-isa, talagang sobrang hirap ng pinagdaanan kong training. 12 [noon] ‘yung training namin, aakyat ako ng 10 [A.M.] para lang mag-overload kami ni Coach Jessie Lopez,” Ancheta said as he recalled to NU’s Season 87 buildup.
“Sobrang hirap talaga, dumating sa point na parang susuko na ako dahil ang hirap ng pinapagawa niya sa aking overload!” Ancheta recalls.
Along with the need to improve his game big-time, Ancheta had to deal with the white noise questioning his ability to become the Bulldogs’ next lead setter.
“Hindi po talaga maiwasan ‘yung ang daming masasabi ng mga tao kasi Owa Retamar ‘yun, sobrang laki ng ambag na nagawa niya sa NU, tas ako nagsisimula pa lang,” Ancheta admitted. “Pero sinabi ko lang sa sarili ko na tatrabahuhin ko lang, gagawin ko lahat para maibigay kung ano man ang maitutulong ko sa team.”
Months since his initial transition, Ancheta would go on to steer National U to a historic five-peat in Season 87, tossing up 4.06 excellent sets per frame throughout eliminations as he shared the wealth with the Bulldogs’ vaunted offensive threats.
In their grueling finals against the FEU Tamaraws, Ancheta would up his game further, averaging 4.46 excellent sets per frame to help the Bulldogs secure their seventh-overall UAAP men’s volleyball championship.
Ancheta wrapped up his Season 87 run with 16 excellent sets against the Tamaraws, leading National U to a title-clinching 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 Game 3 victory before nearly 15,000 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last March 17.
“Syempre unang una sa lahat, nagpapasalamat ako kay Coach Dante na sakin niya binigay ‘yung tiwala niya bilang magstarting setter and ayun, history! Pero ‘yan talaga, malaki ang pagsasalamat ko kay Coach Dante kasi sa akin niya binigay ‘yung tiwala niya,” said Ancheta.
Unsung hero
Ancheta, though, stressed that his job was far from a one-man show, going on to emphasize the impact of rookie Jeffe Gallego throughout his and National U’s tough Season 87 journey.
Gallego, a former Boys’ Volleyball Finals MVP, willingly became a capable backup to Ancheta throughout Season 87, resulting in a partnership built on cooperation rather than competition.
“Pagdating ni Jeffe, shinare ko lang sa kanya ‘yung sistema na mayroon ang NU, tsaka ‘yung usapan namin maganda eh! Parang ang naging trabaho lang namin this season is kung anong wala ako is mayroon siya, tapos kung ano man ang meron ako, ‘yun ang wala siya. So palitan lang kami,” Ancheta detailed.
“So hindi ko lang din talaga tine-take ‘yung trabaho ko bilang sa akin lang, kasi nandiyan naman si Jeffe, talagang panalo naming dalawa ito.”
Helping NU achieve a men’s volleyball five-peat also fulfilled a promise between the two setters, who were part of the Nazareth School-NU Bullpups’ silver medal finish during the Season 85 Boys’ Volleyball finals.
“Naging inspiration ko na lang din ‘yung Season 85 namin, kasi kami ni Jeffe parehas kami nasa loob, nag 4-2 [four spikers, two setters] rotation. So noong time na ‘yun, natalo kami ng championship sa FEU rin,” Ancheta shared.
“Tapos nagkaroon kami ng usapan na ibabawi namin ‘yung tandem namin ngayong season,” concluded Ancheta, who stuck by Gallego’s side throughout NU’s five-peat celebrations after Game 3.
Banner images courtesy of Cas Aseoche, UAAP Media Bureau.