National University’s Michaelo Buddin made his debut in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball tournament on Wednesday morning and is prepared for whatever role head coach Dante Alinsunurin assigns to him.
Buddin, the Season 85 2nd Best Outside Spiker, missed the Bulldogs’ first nine games this year after fracturing his right hand a week before the ongoing tournament commenced.
He returned to the taraflex after almost two months, delivering three points and six excellent receptions in limited time off the bench in NU’s 25-13, 25-17, 25-22 straight sets win against the University of the East.
However, Buddin understands that he will be coming off the bench for now, as senior Nico Almendras and rookie Jade Disquitado have impressed in the open hitter position for the Bulldogs.
“Deserved naman nilang dalawa kasi so far maganda naman yung ipinapakita nilang dalawa, so ako, kung kailan ako kakailanganin ni coach, ready naman ako lagi na kung may mag-off sa kanila, kung tatawagin ako ni coach, ready ako lagi na mag-perform,” said the sophomore Buddin.
As of March 24, Disquitado was the league’s second-highest scorer with 163 points, while Almendras was fifth with 144. Their efficiency in spiking is also in the top 10 in the league.
For Alinsunurin, it’s a good problem to have to juggle the three heavy hitters for the open spiker position.
“Sa ngayon yun ang nagiging problema ko, pero good problem talaga. Sabi ko naman kung ano yung magiging paghahanda namin, siguro doon din ako magdedecide talaga kung anong pwede gamitin pero nakita ko naman kung paano nandiyan si Jade at Nico magtrabaho pagdating sa past few games namin,” said the long-time NU mentor.
“Syempre in the long run dahil sa haba ng liga na ito mas kakailanganin ko pa rin si Buddin, nagdedepende lang talaga sa situwasyon namin.”
The Bulldogs are in the first spot with an 8-2 record and will finish the elimination round against Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Adamson University, and Far Eastern University in that order.
