UAAP Season 78 runners-up National University Bulldogs made it out of a hotly-contested Group B, eliminating NCAA champions University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas with a sweep 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 in the 2016 Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Group B had National University, Perpetual, La Salle and FEU all sport 3-1 records. NU’s win puts them through to the semifinals with the other semifinal qualifier to be determined on Monday when the Tamaraws and Green Spikers face off.
The Bulldogs pulled double-digit contributions from its three wing hitters. Opposite Madz Gampong tallied 12 points while open hitters Bryan Bagunas and Fauzi Ismail provided 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Perpetual managed to keep each set close but faltered late in each set, unable to consistently get good passes. The Altas managed 31 excellent receptions on 65 attempts while the Bulldogs passed 30 excellent on 55 attempts.
“Maganda ang pinakita ng mga pinakita ng mga bata kasi chinallenge talaga namin sila. Do-or-die kanina; lumabas ‘yung sense of urgency nila. Hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
Relan Taneo shifted from opposite to setter midway through the match and contributed 11 points and eight excellent sets. His brother, Rey managed nine points.
National University awaits the results of the final matches to determine their seeding and who they’ll face in the semis.
The Scores
NU (3) – Gampong 12, Bagunas 11, Ismail 10, Malabubga 7, Baysac 4, Dayandante 2, Saura 2, Ancheta 0, Natuvidad 0, Marcos (L)
UPHSD (0) – Taneo Relan 11, Taneo Rey 9, Kasim 7, Ramos 5, Abcede 4, Sala-an 4, Catipay 2, Doliente 2, Rosales 1, Narvasa 0, Kalingking (L)
