Three-time defending champion National University will enter the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament aware of the stronger and better field of competition.
Achieving a repeat of the Bulldogs’ 16-game sweep of Season 85 will be much harder.
NU will also aim to continue its 34-game winning streak in the league, dating back to its second game in Season 81 back in 2019.
“Sa amin, challenge lang ulit sa amin ngayong season… Kasi importante na meron kaming hinahawakan na record para hindi kami magpabaya, kasi importante rin ito sa mga player na kailangan ma-challenge lagi sa nangyayari,” said Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin during the tournament press conference at the SM Mall of Asia Arena lobby on Monday.
When Alinsunurin pointed out that the competition got tougher, it was due to other teams reigning in different preseason tournaments during the UAAP offseason.
De La Salle University won the 2023 V-League Collegiate Challenge, while University of Santo Tomas ruled the 2023 PNVF Challenge Cup. Meanwhile, Adamson University got the championship in the 2024 UniGames.
“Lahat ng mga teams, yung performance nila doon sa off-season namin, may kanya-kanyang liga na sinalihan na champion…,” said Alinsunurin, who is now in his 13th year as the team’s chief tactician.
“Gaya ng Adamson sa UniGames, La Salle as V-League champion, at yung UST as PNVF champions. Kaya sigurado ngayong taon mas magiging exciting yung liga.”
Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they will have their two leaders back.
Joshua Retamar and Nico Almendras, who needed some time to ponder their future with the school, decided to stay and play for NU this coming season.
Retamar, the reigning Best Setter, announced last November that he would run it back with the four-peat-seeking Bulldogs.
On the other hand, Almendras made it a secret until the press conference where he was in attendance for the university.
“Sobrang laking impact yan kasi alam niyo naman yung naging performance namin noong Spikers’ Turf kailangan pa rin namin ng leader sa loob ng court pati sa outside,” said Alinsunurin, recalling their title run in the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
“Yun yung nagiging dahilan kung bakit nagiging maayos yung takbo ng team eh dahil sa leadership nung dalawa.”
