When dealt with heartbreaking scenarios, people often have two choices to do with it: to forget or to remember.
For National University, it is choosing to remember how its schedule ended heading into the Holy Week break.
Riding a hot seven-game winning streak, the four-peat-seeking Bulldogs were pulled back to Earth by their only first round tormentor, the struggling University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers.
NU was actually primed to be on its way to a revenge win after pulling off an improbable comeback in the first set, overhauling a 14-3 hole into a 30-28 win before following it up with a 25-22 second frame.
Then UST made it a ball game.
The Golden Spikers found ways in the third and fourth sets, winning 25-23, 25-22, to force a decider where they just dominated, 15-9 for the elimination series sweep against the defending champions on Palm Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Alam mo hindi kasi makakalimutan yung mga ganito eh kasi magbabakasyon ka na natalo ka,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin after his team fell to 7-2, still at second.
“Sabi ko nga baka ito yung mag-spark pa sa amin para mas pagbutihan pa namin at may dahilan kami para hindi kami mag-break,” he continued.
The Bulldogs had four players in double figures but they had no answer for the reigning MVP Josh Ybañez, who uncorked a career-best 34 points along with 25 excellent receptions.
Rookie Jade Disquitado led the way for NU with 20 points while Leo Aringo added 19 points. Nico Almendras was held to just 13 points.
For the ever-calm tactician, it would be a learning experience for his Bulldogs, hoping that the next time they encountered such fiery fightback from their opponents, they would know what to do to deny it.
“Siguro kailangan pa talaga namin trabahuhin yung ginagawa namin although nakuha namin yung first two sets, pagdating ng third set medyo nawala kami sa sistema namin, nagpabaya kami pero syempre sabi ko kasama sa ganong sitwasyon makabalik kami sa ganong sitwasyon sa susunod na mangyari ulit meron na kaming kasagutan,” said Alinsunurin.
NU will seek to vent its ire and frustrations against University of the East after the Lenten league break on April 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
By then, Alinsunurin would like fewer errors as they gave up 29 free points to the Golden Spikers.
“Syempre sa ngayon talagang sobrang low morale kami sa sitwasyon na yun sa pagkatalo namin,” said the decorated men’s volley coach.
“Overall naman pagdating sa ibang games, ang importante lang lagi sabi namin kung ano man yung nangyari sa amin, trabahuhin talaga namin yung nagiging problema namin like yung unforced errors namin saka kung paano kami makatransition sa kanila,” he added.
“Siguro mas pagbubutihan pa namin kung ano yung naging trabaho namin nung pagkatalo namin nung first round, siguro mas doblehin pa ngayon para mamaximize namin yung ginagawa namin sa ganong sitwasyon.”
NU will have another card in its sleeve as Alinsunurin confirmed that UAAP Season 85 Second Best Outside Spiker Michaelo Buddin can make his debut anytime the team needs him against UE.
UST, despite beating NU twice, is in joint-fourth with Ateneo de Manila University with both holding 5-4 records. The Blue Eagles have the tiebreaker edge after winning both their matchups against the Golden Spikers.
“Si Buddin naman nitong week nakasama na sa training, siguro anytime na kailanganin ko sa next game namin pwede na siyang pumasok.”
