National University moved one win away from sweeping the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball elimination round after surpassing its strongest opponent on paper and in standings.
But it cannot let its guard down against the final hurdle, Ateneo de Manila University.
The Bulldogs will look to complete the sweep and earn an automatic Finals ticket on Saturday at 9:00 AM against the Blue Eagles. But NU team captain Joshua Retamar knows it will not be easy. Ateneo needs to win to clinch at least a playoff for a Final Four berth, and more than spoiling the Bulldogs’ dreams.
“’Yung Ateneo – halos lahat naman pala ng team pinaghahandaan eh, and Ateneo nga, kailangan nilang manalo kasi para makapasok sa Final Four. So bawat team pinaghahandaan namin, wala kaming sinasayang,” said Retamar, who tallied 19 excellent sets, eight digs, and six points in their four-set win against UST on Wednesday.
“Hindi porket natalo namin nung first round, kailangan pag handaan pa rin namin kasi lahat naman lumalaban, so papanoorin namin sila paano maglaro,” he added, recalling the Bulldogs’ 25-23, 25-11, 25-20 win in the first round against Ateneo.
The Blue Eagles are currently in a three-way logjam with Far Eastern University and De La Salle University at 7-6, with just two semis tickets remaining. The Green Spikers will have 4-8 University of the East as their last assignment; meanwhile, the Tamaraws will face 2-11 Adamson University.
Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin said it’s back to the drawing board as they aim to finish the job against Ateneo. They also want to be the first team to sweep the eliminations since Season 79 – when, coincidentally, the Blue Eagles swept their way to the championship.
“Kailangan namin paghandaan kasi alam namin na doon nakasalalay ‘yung magiging ranking nila sa last part. Kami, alam namin na magiging agresibo sila sa gagawin namin,” said Alinsunurin, fully aware of what’s at stake for Ateneo.
“Kaya kami kailangan namin talaga pag-aralan pa kung ano ‘yung pwede mangyari sa loob ng court, and magpakondisyon pa para mas masigurado naming makuha namin ‘tong last game namin.
“Ang importante ready naman kami – sistema namin sa block nandun naman eh. And kung may konting problema, konting mga lapses na sitwasyon, siguro kailangan mag-adjust pagdating sa training,” he continued.
NU had a field day in the blocking department against the Golden Spikers, dominating the category 15-1. Congolese Obed Mukaba had eight of their rejections, while Retamar got two.
