National University head coach Dante Alinsunurin has called on the Bulldogs to quickly adapt and learn to play without star outside hitter Buds Buddin ahead of their do-or-die clash against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Final Four this Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
While NU managed to close the elimination round with a four-set win over UST despite Buddin’s absence, his presence was sorely missed in their 24-26, 25-27, 25-19, 18-25 defeat at the hands of the Golden Spikers in the first round of the Final Four, putting their “five-peat” bid on the brink.
With Buddin still nursing a right ankle sprain, his status remains uncertain heading into the knockout match. Alinsunurin hopes his team can rise to the occasion regardless of the 23-year-old’s availability.
“Isa talaga yan sa need nila matutunan and soon kung sakali na wala pa siya by Wednesday. Hindi kami pwede umasa or to rally around him lang,” Alinsunurin told Tiebreaker Times.
“May konting sakit pa rin [si Buddin]. Gusto ko na nga sana ilaban kanina pero nag-decide ako na meron pa naman tatlong araw para maka-recover ulit para by next game namin sa Wednesday, hopefully makalaro na siya. Pero sa ngayon, pinanghahawakan ko pa rin yung mga kaya maglaro sa loob ngayon pero may mga situation na kailangan ko si Buddin, baka mapilitan ko na ipasok siya,” he added.
Beyond Buddin’s absence, Alinsunurin admitted that NU’s shocking Final Four loss — their first in nearly eight years, dating back to Season 79 in 2017 — was largely a result of overconfidence.
After narrowly losing the extended opening set, the Bulldogs built a promising 23-21 lead in the second frame. But instead of closing strong, they allowed UST to respond with a 5-1 run that turned the tide and sent NU into a two-set hole that proved too deep to climb out of.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Sobrang nagkumpyansa kami sa laro. Sobrang kumpyansa talaga. Para sa akin, ‘yon lang yung naging problem talaga kasi nandoon naman kami nung first and second sets. Talagang nalagay lang namin yung sarili namin sa alanganing sitwasyon kung saan nag-relax kami. Pero sabi ko nga, sa pagkatalo, may chance pa para makabawi,” said Alinsunurin, who also serves as the head coach of Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League.
Despite the sting of defeat, Alinsunurin believes the lessons learned from their latest stumble will serve as fuel heading into the all-important knockout game against a fired-up UST squad seeking redemption.
Should the Bulldogs prevail on Wednesday, they will advance to their 10th straight Finals appearance since Season 75 — surpassing UST’s nine consecutive trips to the Finals from Seasons 57 to 65, and setting a new record for the longest Finals streak in UAAP men’s volleyball history.
They would also tie the DLSU Lady Spikers’ 10 straight Finals appearances for the longest streak in UAAP collegiate volleyball history.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, yung mindset namin today, talagang hindi talaga kami nakafocus sa game. Sabi ko, pagdating sana bukas sa training namin at sa Wednesday na laro, dapat ipakita nila yung itsura at yung manner na gusto nila manalo para sa NU,” Alinsunurin concluded.
