National University moved within one win of the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge title after taking a hard-fought 25-14, 39-37, 25-22 victory over Far Eastern University on Wednesday night at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
After dominating the opening set, the Bulldogs had to grind through a marathon second frame before holding off the Tamaraws in the third to move closer to their first V-League title in four years.
“Well, ‘yun maganda ‘yung pinasa namin, ‘yung serve namin kaya naging maganda ‘yung resulta ng game,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“Maganda ‘yung pasok ng serve namin and halos dun lang talaga umikot kasi in terms of skills naman saka in terms of offense naman halos sabay. Nakita ko naman, nandun naman, kailangan lang talaga mataas ‘yung porsyento namin,” he added.
(C) V-League Images
Facing a 17-14 deficit in the third set, Obed Mukaba and Greg Ancheta breathed life into the Bulldogs with back-to-back blocks, sparking an 11-5 finishing run that turned the set around and sent NU across the finish line.
The Bulldogs’ late surge came after they had already weathered a grueling second-set battle, with both sides trading blows through 14 set points.
With neither team willing to give way, Leo Ordiales rose above the blockers to put NU ahead, 38-37, before Jade Disquitado finished the marathon with an off-the-block hit to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
(C) V-League Images
Buds Buddin paced NU with 18 points and 20 excellent receptions, while Disquitado chipped in 17 points on 14 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, along with 15 excellent receptions.
Team captain Peng Taguibolos added 12 points, including eight of the Bulldogs’ 15 blocks, while Ordiales contributed 11 markers and nine excellent digs in the one-hour, 33-minute victory.
Ancheta orchestrated NU’s balanced offensive attack with 23 excellent sets, while Jimwell Gapultos anchored the team’s defense with 13 excellent digs.
The Bulldogs will look to close out the series on Friday at 5 p.m. at the same venue.
For FEU, Dryx Saavedra and Kyle Tandoc led the way with 12 points apiece.
