The NU Bulldogs complete their five-peat bid after overcoming a highly-determined FEU Tamaraws side.
History made, dynasty extended.
For the first time in the Final Four era, the NU Bulldogs completed a five-peat after a solid 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 victory over the FEU Tamaraws in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball finals on Saturday.
By getting their fifth straight title, the dynastic Bulldogs secure their seventh UAAP Men’s Volleyball championship, all coming under the tutelage of longtime tactician Dante Alinsunurin.
Saturday’s contest was a stark contrast to Games 1 and 2, which saw FEU and National U exchange a pair of gritty five-set victories en route to a rubber match. This time around, the Bulldogs asserted their might against the Tamaraws fully as they secured a straight-set victory.
“This season talaga, sobrang team effort talaga. Mapa-players, or coaches, mapa-S&C ko, mga PT ko, sobrang, talagang tinrabaho namin ito, and may mga kanya-kanya kaming trabaho na ginampanan talaga. Sobrang thankful ako dahil naging maayos talaga ‘yung takbo ng team namin,” Alinsunurin said.
“Nitong finals namin, kahit nada-down kami, dahil sa coaching staff ko mabilis nakakabalik players ko kaya sobrang thankful ako sa lahat ng tumutulong samin para makuha ‘yung kampeonato na ito.”
That’s not to say that FEU didn’t go down swinging, as Sets 2 and 3 could have easily swayed into their favor if it wasn’t for the Bulldogs’ championship poise.
After capitalizing on FEU’s nine unforced errors in the opener, the Bulldogs nearly dropped Set 2, as they allowed the Tamaraws to open a huge 11-3 run, which turned a 20-12 advantage into a 23-all deadlock late into the frame.
It wasn’t until a personal 3-0 spurt from Jade Disquitado that allowed the Bulldogs to take a commanding 2-0 set lead.
Similarly, the Bulldogs were forced to play catchup by Set 3, before slowly chipping away under the leadership of towering opposite Leo Ordiales and Michaelo Buddin.
After a trio of FEU errors aided National U’s way to a 24-23 advantage, it was a swipe from captain and Finals MVP Leo Aringo that secured the five-peat before nearly 15,000 fans in attendance at the Pasay-based venue.
Showing their championship composure, the Bulldogs only committed 17 unforced errors as compared to the Tamaraws’ 27 lapses throughout the 90-minute affair.
“Unang una, itong championship na ito, inaalay ko sa kapatid ko na si Mike. Salamat sa suporta. Una ‘yun na naging lamang namin. Pangalawa siguro, ‘yung dedication ng player ko na na-down kami ng Game 1, talagang pinilit namin na makabalik. Kahit na anong pwede gawin, na ‘di talaga muna kami nag-ensayo at nagpakundisyon muna kami,” Alinsunurin reflected.
“Tapos nung third set, talagang gusto na namin kunin ‘yung laro, kasi alam namin na pag nabuhayan ang FEU, baka mabawian pa kami. Kaya sabi ko sa mga player ko hangga’t maari, i-push na natin para makuha na natin itong championship na ito.“
Ordiales paced the Bulldogs with 13 points, followed by middle blocker Peng Taguibolos with 10 built on five huge rejections. Seniors Aringo and Buddin added nine markers apiece, to go along with 10 and 11 excellent receptions, respectively.
Dryx Saavedra was FEU’s lone bright spot as he finished with a game-high 24 points, with usual backups such as Amet Bituin and Mikko Espartero getting limited to single digits by the Bulldogs.
On top of securing the five-peat, National U’s Season 87 triumph also marks another golden double for the Jhocson-based side, with the Lady Bulldogs dispatching the DLSU Lady Spikers in a straight-set affair last Wednesday, May 14.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.