When National University ended the first round in a joint-second place with a 5-2 record, the Bulldogs felt far from satisfied.
They were especially disappointed with how they closed the round after De La Salle University stunned them in five sets, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10.
NU’s other defeat came at the hands of Far Eastern University, which completed a perfect 7-0 sweep of the first round.
In the second round, Leo Ordiales made the team’s intentions clear: they want a sweep of all seven games to build maximum confidence heading into the Final Four, as the Bulldogs aim to extend their reign to a sixth consecutive championship.
“Lahat kami bawing-bawi naman eh kasi ’yun nga, nung first round, maganda ‘yung simula namin tapos biglang nagbago. Ngayon, ang mindset namin ay talagang kung sino ang nakatalo sa amin, babawian namin. Tinatry talaga naming i-sweep itong second round,” said Ordiales on Sunday after their 25-16, 25-21, 25-15 win against the University of the East.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
With the victory over UE, NU has now strung together five straight wins in the second round, including handing FEU its first loss of the tournament.
Up next for them is La Salle, as they look to exorcise the ghost of their first-round upset.
It has been a similar story in the Bulldogs’ last two title runs, where they ramped up their performance in the second round en route to their fourth and fifth consecutive championships.
For head coach Dante Alinsunurin, it is all about peaking at the right time.
“Basta kami, mas nagpi-prepare kami talaga sa bandang dulo. Kasi alam namin na sa tagal ng ginagawa namin dito sa programa sa NU, nakikita namin na pagdating sa dulo, ’yun talaga ang napakaimportante,” said Alinsunurin.
“Kahit last game, kung sino man ang makaharap, kailangan push talaga sa limit namin kasi dito sa volleyball, yung momentum talaga sobrang importante.”
Ordiales, who is in his second playing year with the Bulldogs, urged his team not to take their foot off the gas, stressing that momentum will play a huge role in postseason success.
“Sa amin, importante ’yung winning streak kasi papasok na naman sa Final Four,” said Ordiales.
“Iba na rin kasi ’yung laro sa Final Four kumpara sa elimination, eh kaya kailangan talaga ‘yung kumpiyansa mo, taasan mo lang kasi maraming magbabago pagdating ng Final Four.”
