Leo Ordiales stood the tallest among many heroes to be named as the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Finals Most Valuable Player.
The 6-foot-5 opposite spiker led National University to its sixth straight championship after overcoming Far Eastern University via a Finals sweep.
Ordiales top-scored for the Bulldogs in their 21-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 15-8 five-set Game 1 win last Wednesday with 22 points on 20-of-42 attacks and two blocks.
He then made sure NU would claim the crown in just two games, topping his Game 1 performance with a Game 2 to remember on Saturday, in front of 11,526 fans inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
In the championship clincher, Ordiales was a man possessed, delivering 24 big points on a hyper-efficient 23-of-36 spiking clip along with one block — all that in a dominant 26-24, 25-22, 25-22 sweep.
Fighting back tears, Ordiales dedicated the championship and the Finals MVP award to his father, who will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow.
“Pa, para sayo ito!
“At sa lahat ng mga naniniwala diyan, para sa inyo ito!” continued the newly minted Finals MVP.
Ordiales won Best Opposite Spiker this season as well while being a key cog in Alas Pilipinas’ memorable run in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship as a starter.
The second-year player can still suit up for two more seasons for NU.
