Towering opposite hitter Leo Ordiales bares his fangs in the NU Bulldogs’ sweep over the UST Golden Spikers in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Final Four.
On the evening before NU’s Final Four rubber match against UST, opposite hitter Leo Ordiales admitted how a mix of excitement and anxiety prevented him from getting a proper good night’s rest.
After all, National U’s five-peat aspirations were now on the line, having lost to the Golden Spikers in their Final Four opener last Saturday, May 3, and another loss would have sent them into an earlier-than-usual offseason break.
“Hirap na hirap ako matulog! Siguro dala din ng naeexcite ako, and at the same time, kinakabahan din. Ayun, buti naman nakatulog, pero super late na eh,” he told The GAME in an exclusive interview. “Ewan ko talaga, basta iniisip ko ‘yung laro [do-or-die against UST], pero pinapakalma ko naman ‘yung sarili ko para hindi ako ma-pressure.”
Whatever mix of emotions Ordiales felt was certainly thrown out of the window on Wednesday, May 7 as he flexed his height and power advantage in the Bulldogs’ 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 sweep of the Golden Spikers in their Final Four rubber match.
With their title aspirations on the line, Ordiales fired a season-high 20 points against UST, built on an impressive 19-of-30 (63.33 percent) spiking efficiency as he helped National U book an unprecedented 10th straight UAAP Men’s Volleyball finals appearance.
“Ayun, after ng [Game 1] namin, parang ni-review ko kasi ‘yung laro namin, and nag-viewing kasi kami. Sinabi lang sakin ng mga coaches ko na ayun lang, gamitin mo ‘yung advantage mo kasi malaki ka. Wag puro power, minsan gamitin mo ganito,” said Ordiales, recalling his 15-point effort against UST last Saturday.
“Parang pagkatalo namin, inisip ko reset lang talaga, trabaho ulit, all-out. Parang iniisip ko kasi na magiging kwento na lang ba kami? O gagawa kami ng kwento,” Ordiales added during the post-game press conference.
Ordiales has been a steady presence for NU throughout Season 87, with his 125 points (8.92) per game solidifying him as the Bulldogs’ third option behind captain Leo Aringo and star hitter Michaelo “Buds” Buddin.
But with his 20-piece against UST, Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin believes that Ordiales has begun to bare his fangs.
“Sa akin, sa wakas! Ito talaga ‘yung hinahanap namin sa kanya everytime na naglalaro kami, kasi alam namin ‘yung kapabilidad niya sa paglalaro, the way kami mag-practice, the way kami mag-punta kami sa ibang bansa,” Alinsunurin said post-game. “Kasi alam namin na marami siyang ibibigay samin at malaking tulong sa amin pag nasa loob siya.”
Ordiales, though, remained humble when asked about Alinsunurin’s comments, knowing that he has a lot left to show in his stellar UAAP debut season.
“Hindi pa eh, gusto ko pang mag-improve, and kumbaga hindi pa ako satisfied sa laro ko ngayon, and gusto ko pang mag-level up ako,” he said.
Shot at history
Leo Ordiales will now be playing in his first-ever UAAP Men’s Volleyball finals starting this Sunday, May 11, as he and NU look to draw first blood against an equally-stacked FEU Tamaraws side.
But while excited for his finals debut, the towering spiker is staying level-headed for now, and vowed to make the most out of their four-day break for rest and pre-game preparations.
“Excited din, pero mas tatrabahuhin muna ulit, and mahalaga talaga ‘yung magpahinga kami ngayon,” he said.
Along with the rest of National U, a more humble Leo Ordiales will enter that finals bout against FEU, especially after getting a timely reality check from UST in the Final Four.
“Parang sinasabi samin [nung UST], na huwag ka talaga magrerelax, kasi lahat ng team lalaban at lalaban talaga ‘yan. Kaya kung nananalo ka nang nananalo, tuloy-tuloy mo pa rin kung ano ‘yung ginagawa niyo, mula simula ng laban hanggang sa dulo,” he concluded.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.