Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

News

Bryan Bagunas, NU look to close era with back-to-back titles


Through steady recruiting and player development, the National University Bulldogs have remained one of the top teams in the UAAP this decade.

Sunday afternoon, the Bulldogs added to their legacy, clinching a seat in the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Volleyball Finals – their seventh straight Finals appearance.

This particular trip to the Finals has an air of finality for NU, since four key players – Bryan Bagunas, Kim Malabunga, Francis Saura, and Madz Gampong – are winding down their UAAP careers.

Last season represented a return to the top after this batch of Bulldogs finally conquered the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Before that, the Bulldogs had last bested Ateneo in the Finals in Season 76. Then the next three seasons, the Blue Eagles took over on the back of Marck Espejo’s transcendent talent.

Season 77 was the end of an NU dynasty with Peter Torres, Berlin Paglinawan, Edwin Tolentino, and Ben Inaudito all ending their UAAP careers with a Finals loss.

This time, Bagunas and his batchmates are looking for a different end to their NU legacy.

UAAP-81-Volleyball-NU-vs.-ADU-Natividad-8786 Bryan Bagunas, NU look to close era with back-to-back titles News NU UAAP Volleyball  - philippine sports news

“Sobrang special ‘to kasi last playing year ko na.

“Ito na lang ‘yung katangi-tangi naming ibibigay sa NU, ‘yung history. Sobrang saya kasi nasa Finals na naman, tapos iba ‘yung makakalaban namin, talagang kailangan namin paghandaan. Training pa lang at makinig sa mga coaches, ‘yun lang po,” Bagunas, the league’s leading scorer and prospective MVP, said.

NU face the FEU Tamaraws in the Finals, a team they last met in the championship round in Season 75. Back then, the Bulldogs took down the Tamaraws in a heated series for their first-ever UAAP title.

#ReadMore  Suzara sees more Filipino volleyball players playing overseas soon

Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin does not expect this Finals series to have the same emotional encounters, but still looks forward to highly-competitive series against a proud program.

UAAP-81-Volleyball-NU-vs.-ADU-Dante-Alinsunurin-8834 Bryan Bagunas, NU look to close era with back-to-back titles News NU UAAP Volleyball  - philippine sports news

“Medyo kalmado na. Siguro nagkakatalo lang talaga kami (ng FEU) sa kung sino lang ang makaka-receive talaga. Halos pantay naman ‘yung team ngayon, sa skills and sa experience,” said Alinsunurin.

“Kung tutuusin sila talaga yung ka-batch namin. Ito yung ka-batch nilang FEU eh. Naiwan lang talaga din ang UST. Ito yung team na nagsimula. Medyo sinwerte kami ng FEU na magkakaharap ngayon. Sigurado magiging close yung laban namin.”

With four players graduating, Alinsunurin wants his seniors to end their careers right.

“Last batch na naman na alam kong buo yung core ko eh. Sana makuha namin itong Finals na ito para pagdating ng next year, meron kaming baon. Importante kasi ‘pag nagsimula ang isang team, dapat meron kaming inaalagaan,” said the enlisted Air Force personnel.

“Kasi mahirap naman na hindi namin makuha ‘tong Finals tapos mag-start kami ng panibago. Basta kahit anong mangyari, gagawin namin ng team na makuha yung championship ulit ngayon.”

Written By

Miguel Luis Flores fell face first into sports writing in high sch9l and has never gotten up. He reluctantly stumbled into the volleyball beat when he started with Tiebreaker Times three years ago. Now, he has waded through everything volleyball - from its icky politics to the post-modern art that is Jia Morado's setting.


You May Also Like

News

Dante Alinsunurin gambled, and Jeffe Gallego made sure to deliver the win. National University executed a reverse sweep against Adamson University, 20-25, 17-25, 25-18,...

AdU

With the defending champions on the ropes, it was rookie setter Jeffe Gallego who took control and guided National University to a thrilling comeback...

News

For National University third-year spiker Buds Buddin, volleyball is more than just a game — it’s a test of faith, discipline, and devotion. As...

News

Defending champion National University overcame a third-set stumble to secure a 25-12, 25-15, 15-25, 25-22 victory over the University of the Philippines, earning its...

2025 FIVB World Men’s Championship

With a rare opportunity to compete in the FIVB World Championship, Bryan Bagunas feels determined to recover from his left knee injury and rejoin...

2025 FIVB World Men’s Championship

ALAS Pilipinas standouts Eya Laure and Bryan Bagunas have been introduced as official ambassadors, while indie folk-pop band Ben&Ben has been named the official...

News

Fifth-ranked Choco Mucho repeated over eighth-seeded Choco Mucho, picking up a close straight-set victory 25-22, 25-22, 25-23, to punch a ticket in the 2024-25...

News

Buds Buddin and Leo Aringo always had the talent. Now, they need to prove they have the leadership to keep National University’s dynasty alive....

Advertisement