Through eight championships with National University, head coach Dante Alinsunurin has experienced the highest highs, the lowest lows, and the sacrifices required to stay at the summit of UAAP men’s volleyball.
Now also serving as Choco Mucho head coach in the Premier Volleyball League, Alinsunurin believes his eighth crown — and NU Bulldogs’ historic ‘six-peat’ in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament — stands as his toughest yet most fulfilling title run to date.
“Yes, sobrang overwhelming yung pagkakakuha namin ng championship kasi sa mga struggle namin between the first eliminations and sa second round eliminations talaga. And sobrang thankful ako kasi nag-respond yung mga players namin sa hamon namin sa kanila. Sobrang thankful sa panalo na ’to,” Alinsunurin said.
Securing a ‘six-peat’ is a monumental feat in any league across the world. But for Alinsunurin, NU’s successful title defense in Season 88 was even more special due to how the Bulldogs overcame the challenges thrown their way.
The former national team mentor had to keep Alas Pilipinas Men standouts Leo Ordiales, Buds Buddin, Jade Disquitado, and Peng Taguibolos aligned and in sync with the rest of the Bulldogs throughout the season.
In the end, the sacrifices and endless training required to navigate a highly competitive UAAP men’s volleyball field proved worth it. NU swept top seed Far Eastern University, 26-24, 25-22, 25-22, in Game 2 to clinch the Season 88 crown on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Ang pagkakaiba nito, alam mo, yung ibang player namin ay galing sa mga bago, then yung iba ay nasa national team. Pero masaya makita kung paano namin binuo ulit, kung paano maayos yung samahan nila,” Alinsunurin expressed.
“Maayos yung ginawang proseso namin. Sabi ko sa mga coaches ko, kailangan naming pagkatiwalaan yung proseso. Sobrang special nito kasi six-peat and sobrang daming struggle,” he added.
At the close of a grueling Season 88 campaign, Alinsunurin now holds his eighth UAAP crown in 11 Finals appearances since taking over as NU head coach in 2010.
Still, what continues to drive him is not the accolades or championships, but the growth of his players as they prepare for the professional stage — whether locally or internationally.
“Siguro yung… Kaya naman namin ginagawa ’to siguro sa mga player namin na gusto naming maabot yung best nila sa — hindi lang sa national team, outside the country talaga. Kasi, dito naman talaga tumatakbo yung program namin. Sabi ko, hindi lang talaga dito sa Pilipinas, dapat maging… Yung career nila mag-grow,” Alinsunurin shared.
“Sabi ko, mostly talaga, ang plan talaga namin is makapaglaro sila sa international. Kaya ayun, pinupush lang namin yung sarili namin, nag-aaral, pumupunta sa mga training camps sa ibang bansa para at least makilala kami, ma-recognize kami. And kung ano man yung matutunan namin, dinadala namin dito para pagdating sa international, lahat ng players ready.”
