Leo Ordiales had an extra bout of motivation as he won his first UAAP Men’s Volleyball title with the NU Bulldogs.
On Wednesday, March 14, Leo Ordiales was part of the 18,514-strong crowd that witnessed the NU Lady Bulldogs win the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball championship against the DLSU Lady Spikers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
As a Nationalian since high school, Ordiales was more than proud to see the Lady Bulldogs go back-to-back, given that it was a first in school history, and a senior class led by Bella Belen would exit the UAAP on a winning note.
However, the towering hitter also felt a sense of heartbreak, knowing that his older sister, Jessa Ordiales, was part of the DLSU squad that National U swept for their latest UAAP women’s volleyball title.
Jessa, who committed to DLSU in 2019, was going to exit the program in heartbreaking fashion, being one of four seniors who wrapped up their time as Lady Spikers at the end of their Season 87 campaign.
“Ako, sobrang nalulungkot ako sa kanya kasi syempre dalawa lang kasi kami na nandito nung wala pa sila mama [to watch the UAAP finals], and sakin siya lagi nago-open up. Lahat ng mga paghihirap niya, alam ko,” Ordiales told The GAME in an exclusive interview, with him and Jessa living away from their home province of Negros Occidental to chase their volleyball dreams in Manila.
By the time of Jessa’s UAAP exit, Ordiales’ NU Bulldogs were fresh off their own finals Game 2 victory against the FEU Tamaraws, and had one final shot at extending their dynasty by Saturday, May 17, also at the MOA Arena.
Knowing all the heartbreaks that Jessa has endured in her journey, Ordiales vowed to give her a championship in his own way ahead of the Bulldogs’ final shot at extending their men’s volleyball dynasty.
“Nung time na natalo sila, sabi ko sa kanya, ibabawi ko siya, ako magkukuha ng champion para sa kanya,” Ordiales said.
Leo Ordiales would go on to make history with National U after that promise, with the Bulldogs overwhelming the FEU Tamaraws in a 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 Game 3 sweep to complete the first UAAP volleyball five-peat in the Final Four era.
Ordiales showed the way in that closeout game with a team-high 13 points, helping the Bulldogs shut down any signs of fight from the Dryx Saavedra-led Tamaraws to establish their place within the UAAP history books.
More than being part of a historic run, Ordiales quickly fulfilled the promise he made to Jessa, who is now set to begin her life after the UAAP.
“Thankful naman dahil nakuha ko ‘yung championship, at na-fulfill ko ‘yung promise ko sa kanya…Kasi gusto ko talagang mag-exit kami ng may medal parehas, at thankful naman ako dahil naka-medal siya ngayon,” the six-foot-three hitter reflected.
“Kahit na silver masaya naman siya at masaya naman ako para sa naging result niya kasi nakabalik na siya sa UAAP. Grabe ‘yung pinagdaanan niya, ng injuries niya sa both legs, so ‘yun, thankful ako dahil nakabalik siya.”
Ordiales also capped off his own UAAP debut season in style, where he flexed his might for National U when their dynasty was pushed to a corner by the UST Golden Spikers and the Tamaraws.
In NU’s do-or-die against the Golden Spikers, Ordiales erupted for a season-high 20 points to help the Bulldogs reach the Season 87 finals, before going on to average a solid 16.3 points in their hard-fought title series against the Tamaraws.
“Medyo mahirap na masaya [his first UAAP season], kasi siyempre first round up to second round, medyo struggle ako kasi naninibago sa UAAP crowd, but thankful naman na na-overcome ko ‘yun hanggang naging champion na kami,” Ordiales concluded.
Banner images courtesy of Cas Aseoche, UAAP Media Bureau.