For the past half-decade, National University has been the standard in collegiate men’s volleyball – not only for winning and dominating different tournaments, but for raising the next generation of players for Alas Pilipinas Men.
The Bulldogs are missing key figures such as Buds Buddin, Choi Diao, Jade Disquitado, Jade Ordiales, Leo Ordiales, Rwemzmel Taguibolos, and head coach Dante Alinsunurin, who just secured back-to-back bronze finishes with Alas in the SEA V.League.
And they have found themselves on an unfamiliar path in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge.
In their first game without their Alas teammates, NU was swept in dominant fashion by Far Eastern University. In their second outing, the Bulldogs staged multiple dramatic comebacks to secure a five-set win over Ateneo de Manila University.
Despite these setbacks, team captain Leo Aringo told Tiebreaker Times that NU feels more motivated than ever, not just to win but to meet the standards set by their Alas teammates.
“Yung mga teammates namin, nandoon sa Alas, nagtre-training din, nagpupukpukan sa training, gusto mag-improve talaga. And then ngayon, ipapakita namin sa training at sa laro na nagiimprove rin kami,” Aringo said.
“Kami, ginagawa namin silang inspirasyon para habulin sa kung anong stage na ba sila ng kalakasan nila. So far, yung mga teammates ko, papunta na doon,” he added.
While the past few weeks have required multiple adjustments for NU, Aringo remains confident that the Bulldogs will only get better when their Alas teammates return for V-League play.
Currently, NU holds third place with a 3-2 record in the eight-team league organized by Sports Vision, with two games left on their schedule against De La Salle University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
“Malaking tulong yung mga nasa national team kasi, parang kung ipasok mo kami sa isang court ulit, kaming mga first six, familiar na kami sa gagawin,” said the 6-foot-3 hitter from Davao City.
“Hindi ko na sila sasabihan masyado. Sobrang laki talaga, hindi ko rin naman tatanggalan ng credit yung mga teammates ko dito, malaki rin silang tulong sa amin.”
