Leo Ordiales and Buds Buddin are bringing their international experience back home, fully focused on steering National University toward a historic six-peat in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Fresh off a standout stint with Alas Pilipinas Men last year, the duo is channeling their energy entirely into the Bulldogs’ championship run.
Ordiales and Buddin both represented the Philippines at the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games alongside teammates Jade Disquitado, Peng Taguibolos, and head coach Dante Alinsunurin. And the two are leaving no room for distractions this season.
Together, they helped the Philippines finish 19th out of 32 teams in the World Championship — just one win shy of a Round of 16 berth — before capturing a bronze medal in the SEA Games in Thailand.
“Ako, yung pinaka main focus at main goal ko is tulungan yung team namin ngayon,” said Buddin. “Para sa akin, kasi tapos na yung national team eh, kumbaga ito na yung dapat naming trabahuhin — yung UAAP. Eto na yung team namin ngayon, so dapat dito naka-focus. Kaya ito, mga ganung bagay ‘di na namin iniisip.”
Ordiales added, “Siguro hindi namin iniisip muna na national team kami. Ayun, iniisip namin pantay-pantay kami, may isang goal. Yun lang muna hinahabol namin para less pressure din.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
That focus was on full display from the opening serve, as the Bulldogs overcame contender University of Santo Tomas in a hard-fought 25-22, 29-27, 25-19 sweep at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday to kick off their six-peat bid.
Buddin led the charge with a game-high 16 points on 11 attacks, three kill blocks, and two aces, along with eight excellent receptions. Meanwhile, Ordiales recovered from a slow start to add 11 points in the one-hour, 27-minute match.
For Alinsunurin — who had coached the pair as assistants to Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni at Alas — seeing them excel at both the collegiate and international levels is a measure of success he had envisioned from the start.
“Yung sa kanila naman, bago pa sila ma-recruit, talagang goal ko na sa mga player ko ay ma-match yung skills nila, yung laro nila, at yung experience nila,” said Alinsunurin.
“Unti-unti, nandoon na sila. Sa akin lang, huwag lang silang magsawa sa ginagawa nila kasi sigurado, malayo pa yung mararating nila.”
Still, Alinsunurin stressed that international experience alone won’t automatically secure a championship. Hard work and continuous improvement remain essential to meet the high expectations surrounding the Bulldogs.
“Yun nga eh, parang ang sinasabi nila na kami na yung champion. Pero sabi ko, kailangan pa rin namin trabahuhin,” the decorated head coach, who also served as an assistant coach for Alas Men, said.
“Although lamang kami sa tao, importante na i-improve lang namin every day, every game yung gagawin namin, para yung pressure at expectation ng tao, unti-unti naming makuha.”
#WATCH: HIGH EXPECTATIONS 🐶
Dante Alinsunurin, along with Leo Ordiales and Buds Buddin, talk about the high expectations they have coming off their stints with Alas Men 🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/xgvd2ITsma
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/NRMn2aMaK2
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 15, 2026
