Leo Ordiales and Buds Buddin combined for 39 points as National University swept the University of the Philippines, 28-26, 25-23, 25-20, to return to the win column and claim a share of second place in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Ordiales led the way with 20 points on 13 attacks, six blocks, and one ace. Meanwhile, Buddin added 19 points on 15 attacks, two aces, and one block, helping the Bulldogs quickly rebound from last Saturday’s loss to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
NU also contained the league’s leading scorer, Olayemi Raheem. After averaging 29.7 points in the first three matches, Raheem was limited to a season-low 14 points on 14-of-34 attacks, though he contributed two excellent digs.
Behind the efforts of these Alas Pilipinas Men mainstays, NU joined University of Santo Tomas — which earlier swept the University of the East — as joint second-placers, both holding 3-1 win-loss records.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Sa simula pa naman ng liga, masasabi natin na lahat, laban talaga, kasi sobrang intact ng lahat ng teams. Sa performance namin ngayon, sobrang thankful sa panalo namin, although may lapses pa rin kami sa ginagawa namin through offense and sa pag-receive namin,” Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin said.
In the third set, NU raced to an early 14-9 lead and never looked back. Quick plays from Congolese middle blocker Obed Mukaba, a Jade Disquitado off-the-block hit, and a Zairus Pacure service error kept UP trailing 23-18.
After nearly squandering a 24-18 lead in the second frame, the Bulldogs avoided collapse in the third set. A crosscourt hit by Disquitado and a Mukaba block on team captain Raheem sealed the win in just 82 minutes.
Two hits from Raheem and consecutive blocks by Angelo Lipata and Abram Robles narrowed the gap to 24-23 in the second set, but a costly service error by Milven Francisco allowed NU to secure a two-set advantage.
Disquitado contributed 10 points on nine attacks, alongside 11 excellent receptions and two excellent digs. Team captain Peng Taguibolos added six points from four attacks and two blocks.
Mukaba added five points on four attacks and one block, while Greg Ancheta set up 22 excellent sets in the straight-sets victory. Jimwell Gapultos also contributed nine excellent receptions and six excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons dropped to solo fourth place with a 2-2 record.
Pacure led UP with 12 points on nine attacks, two blocks, and one ace, adding seven excellent receptions and two excellent digs. Francisco scored 10 points on nine attacks and one ace, while Robles tallied seven points on four attacks and three blocks.
Lipata had three points with 17 excellent receptions, and Louise Aballe added 17 excellent sets and one point.
NU will next face UE this Wednesday, March 4, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. On the other hand, UP aims to bounce back against FEU on Sunday, March 8, at the same Quezon City arena.
