After losing both of their elimination matches against the same team, National University finally solved the puzzle that is University of Sto. Tomas to move on the cusp of a rare four-peat in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament Finals.
Save for a tight second set, the Bulldogs dominated the Golden Spikers en route to a 25-17, 26-24, 25-19 victory to draw first blood in the best-of-three Finals series on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin believes that sophomore outside hitter Buds Buddin, who missed the team’s losses to UST in the preliminaries due to a fractured right hand, was the x-factor that the Bulldogs needed to finally topple the fourth-seeded Golden Spikers.
Alinsunurin said that Buddin’s ability to deliver in the clutch and his high efficiency on attacks are exactly what they missed during their previous defeats to UST.
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Dati kasi, before, nung nakalaban namin sila talagang medyo pagdating ng mga end na ng set, dun kami nagkakaproblema. Kaya ngayon, siguro, mas nagustuhan namin yung naging performance ni Buddin, kasi every time na may crucial point, andoon siya sa loob ng court,” said Alinsunurin.
“Siguro nung dumating si Buds, mas tumaas yung porsyento namin talaga, hindi naman gaano. Tumaas talaga in terms of atake namin, every time na may mga crucial point kami na kailangan namin ng puntos, andoon siya. Kaya siguro yun ang naging lamang namin sa UST,” he added.
Buddin, who missed the team’s first nine games in the eliminations, fired 16 points to go along with nine excellent receptions in Game 1 to help the Bulldogs move closer to their sixth overall championship in the men’s division.
For his part, the high-flying outside hitter out of Palawan thanked his seniors Owa Retamar and Nico Almendras for helping him overcome his nerves, which allowed him to gain momentum and get into rhythm.
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Actually dumating ako sa point na parang ‘di ako mapakali kasi sobrang excited ako na hindi ko alam bago pumunta ng game,” admitted Buddin.
“Yung naging mindset ko na lang is sila kuya kasi kapag nasa loob ako ng court, lagi nilang sinasabi sakin na ‘wag kang manggigil, ‘wag kang manggigil’ and nung game na, unti-unti ko ng nakuha yung momentum, ayun tuloy-tuloy na,” he added.
Now a win away from securing his second collegiate title, Buddin vowed to work even harder as he looks to help NU close out the series on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Siguro mas kailangan pa namin pagtrabahuhan kasi alam namin yung UST gustong gusto rin manalo. Kaya alam namin na mas magpe-prepare sila maayos at kami rin magpe-prepare nang maayos para makuha namin yung gusto naming makuha, which is yung four-peat po.”
