‘Five-peat’ champion National University isn’t just relying on continuity as it sets its sights on a sixth straight crown in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
The Bulldogs are drawing strength from something far rarer at the collegiate level: battle-tested international experience.
Fresh off their stint with Alas Pilipinas Men in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship last September, NU’s players returned to the collegiate grind armed with lessons forged against world-class opposition in the 32-team global showpiece.
Longtime head coach Dante Alinsunurin served as an assistant under Italian mentor Angiolino Frigoni. Then middle blocker and team captain Peng Taguibolos, opposite hitter Leo Ordiales, and the dynamic outside hitter duo of Buds Buddin and Jade Disquitado represented the Philippines in a campaign highlighted by a historic victory over African champion and World No. 27 Egypt.
“Syempre, gagamitin namin siya as a motivation kasi mostly doon sa naglaro sa Worlds talaga ay nasa NU,” Alinsunurin said during the league’s official Media Day held at the TV5 Media Center last Sunday, February 8.
“And siguro ‘yon yung panghahawakan namin every time na may game kami, na tipong aalahanin namin kung saan nakarating yung mga players namin.”
For the concurrent Choco Mucho tactician in the Premier Volleyball League, Alinsunurin believes that the exposure — gained from battling elite systems on the international stage — will translate into greater composure when the Bulldogs return to UAAP play.
While the word “experience” is often overused in championship conversations, NU’s offseason was anything but typical. Instead of learning solely through preseason tournaments, the Bulldogs underwent a baptism by fire on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
With the other seven UAAP teams — led by runner-up Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University — undergoing rigorous preparations in hopes of ending NU’s five-year reign, Alinsunurin emphasized that the Bulldogs’ edge lies in the core’s FIVB exposure.
“Halos lahat naman kasi sa ginawa nilang preparation through either international camps or mga last year na liga, lahat naman masasabi mo yung contender,” the former Philippine men’s volleyball team head coach explained.
“Ang masasabi ko lang na edge talaga namin ay yung naging FIVB at UAAP experience ng mga player. Sa championship na labanan talaga, lahat lalaban talaga.”
No strangers to the pressure that comes with defending the coveted UAAP men’s volleyball title, the Bulldogs are expected to lean on that composure as they attempt to live up to their lofty billing — not just as champions, but as gold medalists bannered by a core steeped in international competition.
Beyond the quartet of Taguibolos, Ordiales, Buddin, and Disquitado, NU aims to withstand the challenge of every UAAP contender with the continued emergence of Greg Ancheta, Jan Abanilla, and Obed Mukaba. They can also look forward to the additions of key rookies Luke Macatangay and Yuan Mendoza.
“Sa amin naman, every season kasi nandiyan na yung pressure ‘eh. Pero sa amin, ang importante talaga ay ma-solve lang yung nagiging problema namin sa laro. And syempre, hindi lang sa laro, pero sa labas din ng training namin,” Alinsunurin shared.
He went on, “Ang importante lang sa amin yung magkaroon ng mindset na every time na nasa court kami, ibigay namin yung best namin palagi.
“Sabi ko nga sa rookies, kung ano ‘man yung magiging success namin this season, malipat sana sa kanila at sana maka-experience sila ngayong taon ng championship. Para sa next year or kahit this season nga, para pag tinawag ko yung number nila or nandiyan na sila sa lineup, alam namin na magpe-perform sila. Ang importante lang sa amin now, matuto lang sila sa mga outside hitter namin na naka-first six ngayon.”
The Bulldogs will open their Season 88 title defense against two-time UAAP MVP and Alas Men libero Josh Ybanez and the Golden Spikers this Sunday, February 15, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
