Just when it matters most, National University finds a way to rise to the occasion — this time at the expense of Far Eastern University.
It’s a pattern that has haunted the Tamaraws before.
Back in UAAP Season 87, the Bulldogs handed the Tams their only elimination-round loss, then rallied from a Game 1 finals defeat to win Games 2 and 3, clinching their fifth consecutive championship.
Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, and history repeated itself: NU brought FEU crashing down, handing them their first loss of the season.
A win over a top contender always carries weight.
Buds Buddin starred for the Bulldogs with 25 points on 19 attacks, three blocks, and three aces, highlighting the significance of the victory.
“Siyempre, malaking impact ‘to sa amin kasi knowing FEU is one of the strongest teams this season eh,” said the 6-foot-1 Balabac, Palawan native. “Siyempre, 8–0 sila, at nakuha namin yung isang panalo sa kanila ay malaking bagay para mas ma-build pa namin yung dapat naming i-build sa sarili namin. Ang FEU, hindi basta-bastang team talaga eh.
“Alam mo talaga yung calibre ng bawat player sa kanila [at] intact sila ngayon eh. Manalo sa FEU ay malaking bagay. Alam ko naman na darating yung time o yung game na magtapat kami. Gawin namin yung best namin para makuha ulit yung game.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
While NU dominated the final two frames to secure a resounding victory, they dropped the second and third sets to an FEU squad that had previously taken the first-round meeting in four sets on February 21 and looked poised for a head-to-head elimination-round sweep.
The Bulldogs eventually pulled through, launching an 8–1 run in the fifth set after the score was tied at 7–7.
Reflecting on their performance, Buddin admitted there’s still work to do, particularly in curbing moments of inconsistency.
“Still not satisfied pa rin naman kasi — sabi nga ni Coach [Dante], talagang inconsistent kami sa ginagawa namin eh. Ang dami pang lapses na nangyayari eh,” said the NU Nazareth School alumnus.
“Alam kong marami pa kaming puwedeng ipakita. Alam ko, pagdating sa dulo talaga, yung team namin laging pang-dulo eh. ‘Yun talaga kasi laging goal namin is ‘pag dulo, doon kami nagfo-focus sa kung ano pa yung dapat naming aralin, punan, at tutukan.”
With FEU behind them, NU now shifts focus toward extending its dominance and pursuing a sixth straight championship in Season 88.
Their next challenge comes against the Ateneo Blue Eagles this Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, with lessons from the Tamaraws match-up serving as key takeaways for the crunch stretch of the season.
“Sa ngayon kasi, hindi lang physical ang tine-train namin kundi mental. Pagdating sa ganyang bagay kasi, yung focus dapat nandun pa rin eh. Mahirap kasi minsan kapag nananalo ka sa ganyang game, minsan nawawala,” Buddin said.
“Dapat yung focus — yung eagerness mo to win every single game — ay nandun pa rin. ‘Yun kasi yung pinaka-goal namin eh: to win every single game,” he continued.
“Step-by-step muna, kasi sinasabi lagi sa amin ni Coach na, ‘Huwag niyo madaliin. Darating tayo diyan, unti-untiin lang natin.’ Thankful kami [na] mga players dahil nakita namin yung resulta sa patience na sinasabi ni Coach na unti-untiin lang natin.”
#WATCH: MALAKING IMPACT ITO PARA SA AMIN 🐶
Buds Buddin says finally beating FEU in #UAAPSeason88 is important in NU’s title quest 🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/jX8EdLBKHz
📹 @lorenzodelc /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/ltn2N0NwAA
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 22, 2026
