At the beginning of the UAAP Season 80 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Madzlan Gampong toiled on the National University’s bench. The Bulldogs’ top scorer in the UAAP Season 77 became the odd man out in a deep rotation wings of Bryan Bagunas, James Natividad, and a graduating Fauzi Ismail.
While most players’ confidence disintegrate the more they sit on the bench, the always-upbeat Gampong stayed ready. Following the Holy Week break late in the second round, Gampong finally got his break and replaced fellow Tawi-Tawi-native Ismail in the starting six.
Since coming in as as starting open hitter, Gampong has shone and proven to be the boost the Bulldogs needed to get over the hump. Gampong was electric in NU’s first win over perennial rivals Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the second round.
The proud father reprised his pivotal role against the Blue Eagles in the Finals. He scored 11 points, grabbing five blocks, most of which came against a white-hot Marck Espejo.
For this batch of Bulldogs, Game One was their first triumph over Ateneo in the Finals. Having faced the same Blue Eagles squad over the past three years, Gampong and his teammates don’t want to wait another year for a title.
“Nandito na po kami, kailangan naming kunin ito eh.
“Ito na ang pagkakataon namin ulit, para hindi masayang. Pag masayang ito, mahirap na, next year na naman ulit. Parang sayang kasi, kaya pinu-push namin ang sarili namin ngayong linggo po, hanggang Game Two,” said Gampong.
NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin was proud of his fourth-year spiker, citing him as one their biggest match-up advantages against Ateneo.
“Kaya ko pinasok si Madz sa posisyon kasi ‘yung sa match-up eh.
“Pagdating sa loob kay Madz, sa match-up medyo lamang kami sa kanya, kaya pinush ko na siya talaga ang gamitin pag Ateneo ang kalaban,” Alinsunurin shared.
With a chance to finally end Ateneo’s reign, the Bulldogs are not celebrating until they hold the golden trophy.
“Hindi pa po tapos. Kilala naman po namin ‘yung Ateneo, hindi sila basta-basta bibigay,” said Gampong.
“Kailangan tuloy lang kami sa ginagawa namin hanggang manalo ulet kami.”
