In the biggest game of the season, Buds Buddin had every reason to sit out.
Still nursing a right ankle sprain that had sidelined him during National University’s crucial final elimination match, the veteran outside hitter could’ve easily passed the baton to team captain Leo Aringo, rising star Jade Disquitado, and steady hand Leo Ordiales to carry the Bulldogs’ title hopes.
But for Buddin, sitting out simply wasn’t an option.
Honoring his vow to lead NU through the post-Owa Retamar and Nico Almendras era, Buddin returned to the court — still hurting, still hobbling — and helped script history as the Bulldogs captured their fifth straight UAAP men’s volleyball title in Season 87, becoming the first team to complete a ‘five-peat’ in the Final Four era.
“Nagbunga naman lahat ng effort ko, kasi ang hirap ng thrice a day ‘eh na rehab. Kahit gabi, nagre-release kasi sobrang sakit, pero go lang kasi gusto ko talaga makabalik,” said Buddin following NU’s championship-clinching win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in Game 3 last Saturday, May 17, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Alam ko kakailanganin pa rin nila yung leadership na meron ako. Alam ko naman na kaya nilang mag-perform pero siyempre, iba pa rin yung experience ko na maiambag ko sa kanila.”
Buddin sustained the ankle injury after NU’s penultimate eliminations game against Ateneo. It forced him to sit out their last assignment versus UST — a loss that cost them their twice-to-beat advantage and set up a dangerous do-or-die Final Four battle.
Without Buddin’s leadership, NU faltered against the Golden Spikers, forcing the defending champions into unfamiliar territory. But when it mattered most, Buddin returned with impeccable timing.
In the winner-take-all showdown against UST, the pride of Palawan delivered seven points on 7-of-11 attacking and added nine excellent receptions to steer NU to their 10th consecutive Finals appearance — the longest such streak in UAAP men’s volleyball’s Final Four era.
After a slow start in the championship series, Buddin bounced back with a 20-point outburst in Game 2. He then wrapped up the campaign with a steady nine-point, 11-reception performance in NU’s straight-sets triumph in Game 3 to complete their hard-earned ‘Drive for Five.’
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Buddin credited his resilience to the example set by Retamar and Almendras — his former teammates and mentors who paved the way for NU’s continued dominance.
“Yung start ng game talaga, iba na pinanghuhugutan naming eh. Pangarap talaga ng team naming ito, so pag nasa loob kami ng court, yun talaga yung motivation namin — na siyempre, hindi lang para sa amin ito,” said the 23-year-old.
“Pati rin sa mga coaches naming, na alam naming kung gaano sila nagsakripisyo para makuha tong championship na ‘to. At ayun, lahat talaga nagbunga. Hindi lang kami nagtrabaho — pati families naming na nagpe-pray palagi para sa amin.”
As the Bulldogs shift their gaze to a potential sixth straight crown — a feat last achieved by FEU during their 12-season reign from 1946 to 1958 — Buddin knows this championship may be the most meaningful one yet.
Whether or not captain Leo Aringo returns next season, Buddin is confident that the team’s leadership core — composed of himself, Ordiales, Disquitado, Peng Taguibolos, and Greg Ancheta — is ready to carry the mantle forward.
“Nagme-meeting kami na sabi namin, once na makuha namin ‘to, mas madali na lang kasi ayun nga, buo pa rin naman kami,” Buddin shared.
“Thank you kay Kuya Leo kasi binuo niya na yung team naming eh. So itutuloy-tuloy lang namin kung ano yung nasimulan ni Kuya Leo at ng mga seniors namin. Siguro mas dadagdagan pa namin yung idea namin at skills namin. Andiyan naman sila Coach Dante at mga coaches namin na laging ginagabayan kami — hindi lang inside the court, pati outside the court.”
#WATCH: Buds Buddin takes the torch with pride, continuing what Owa Retamar and Nico Almendras started at NU 🏐
📹 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/0vSjQ3gsE2
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 17, 2025
