Defending champion National University unleashed its frustrations on the University of the Philippines, 25-19, 25-14, 25-19, to return to the win column of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Eager to atone for a shocking five-set loss to the De La Salle University Green Spikers last Sunday, the Bulldogs responded with an emphatic win to open the second round, making quick work of the Fighting Maroons in just 65 minutes, led by the standout performances of Greg Ancheta, Jade Disquitado, and Buds Buddin.
With the victory, NU claimed solo second place in the eight-team field with a 6-2 win-loss record, separating itself from third-placed University of Santo Tomas (5-2) and joint fourth-placers De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University (3-4).
The Bulldogs gained significant momentum ahead of a clash against the unbeaten Far Eastern University Tamaraws — who had trounced the UE Red Warriors earlier today — this Sunday at the Big Dome.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Maraming nagalit [after the loss] between the coaches and the management, pero ang importante lang sa amin ay natanggap lang namin yung pagkakamali namin. ‘’Yon din naman yung naging maganda sa situation, na kahit may nagagalit or may naging sitwasyon, pero sa amin kasi kada may talo, maluwag namin tinatanggap,” NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin said.
“Siguro, nagpahinga lang and nag-focus lang sa kung ano pa kailangang gawin. Kaya naging maganda yung resulta kasi tanggap namin na kailangan pa namin i-improve yung bawat game namin,” he added.
NU wasted no time taking a two-set advantage, racing to a 15-7 lead in the second frame before sealing the set with a Buddin off-the-block hit, a Peng Taguibolos quick, and a backrow attack by Disquitado.
Similarly, the Bulldogs asserted their dominance early in the third frame, sending the Fighting Maroons down an insurmountable 15-8 hole, capped by a Disquitado off-the-block hit and a block by Congolese middle blocker Obed Mukaba.
UP sliced the deficit to as low as 22-18, but NU quickly regained control, closing out the straight-sets triumph with a Taguibolos attack and block, alongside the game-winning block by rookie hitter Yuan Mendoza on Nigerian wing spiker Olayemi Raheem.
Leo Ordiales led the Bulldogs with 14 points and three excellent digs, while Buddin also contributed 14 points, including 10 attacks, three aces, one block, seven excellent receptions, and four excellent digs.
Disquitado added 13 points, eight excellent receptions, and four excellent digs, while Mukaba and Taguibolos contributed nine and six points, respectively.
Ancheta, the No. 2 setter in the first round, delivered 25 excellent sets, while libero Jimwell Gapultos added 12 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons suffered their fifth consecutive loss, remaining in seventh place with a 2-6 record.
Raheem — the tournament’s top scorer after the first round with 166 points — was limited to 12 points on 11 attacks, while sophomore spiker Tommy Castrodes contributed nine points, 15 excellent receptions, and three excellent digs.
UP looks to end its five-game skid when it takes on UE on the same date and venue.
