In just the third game of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, five-time defending champion National University and redemption-seeking Far Eastern University face off in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s three-game championship series.
Both the Bulldogs and the Tamaraws enter the clash unbeaten at 2-0. The crucial matchup is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Last year, NU bounced back from a Game 1 stumble to take the next two games, culminating in an exhilarating Game 3 victory over FEU in front of a UAAP men’s volleyball record crowd of 14,517 fans at the same venue.
Both teams maintain largely intact lineups, with NU bidding farewell to former skipper Leo Aringo, while FEU moved on from team captain Jelord Talisayan.
In Season 88, all eyes are on NU, whose core—head coach Dante Alinsunurin, Peng Taguibolos, Jade Disquitado, Leo Ordiales, and Buds Buddin—bring experience from the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship and the 33rd SEA Games.
For Alinsunurin, the Bulldogs will treat the rematch of the Season 87 Finals as just another game, aiming to replicate the formula that led them to back-to-back victories over the University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University to open Season 88.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Talagang tatrabahuin pa namin yung galaw namin kasi nakita naman namin na pagkamaganda yung pasa namin at serve namin, naco-control namin yung game. Siguro mas magfo-focus pa rin kami sa serve and receive namin para to make sure pag yung break point namin, ma-control namin at masigurado na maganda yung kalabasan ng laro namin,” said the concurrent Choco Mucho tactician in the Premier Volleyball League.
Disquitado echoed the sentiment, sharing his eagerness to apply lessons from competing against the best men’s volleyball teams at the 32-team global showpiece. The 21-year-old outside spiker was part of the Alas Pilipinas Men roster that finished 19th in the World Championship before securing a bronze medal in the SEA Games in Thailand last December.
“Sa akin, sobrang laking tulong kasi yung experience mataas ‘yon ‘eh dahil sa level na linalaro namin. Dinadala ko ‘yon ngayong season and yung iba kong natutunan, shine-share ko sa teammates namin para lahat kami tumaas laro,” Disquitado explained.
“Siguro wala namang kaba, paghahandaan lang namin sila sa game kasi ibang taon na ito ‘eh.”
FEU, meanwhile, still leans on team captain Ariel Cacao, Dryx Saavedra, Amet Bituin, and Mikko Espartero, following a productive offseason that included capturing the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge championship and a successful stint in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
Head coach Eddieson Orcullo admitted that the long-awaited rematch against the Bulldogs has been circled on his calendar, but stressed that the Tamaraws must develop the proper physical and mental mindset to contend with NU’s internationally experienced core.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Yung game namin on Saturday, may two days pa kami para mag-prepare para sa kanila. Actually, naka-ready naman na kami kahit Saturday pa yung game, medyo ang kailangan lang ay mag-focus lang sa NU fully,” Orcullo said.
“Siguro ano na lang din, mindsetting… Yung game sa Saturday, basta lalaruin namin yung best that we can be and ilalabas lang namin yung full potential ng isa. Even the coaches and players, pagtatrabahuan namin.”
For Espartero—who exploded for 194 elimination-round points in Season 87 before being limited to 18 points in the three-game championship series—proper mindsetting and communication will be crucial if FEU hopes to exact any measure of revenge against its modern-day rivals.
“Tulad ng sinabi ko, mahalaga kasi yung usap before the game. ‘Yon kasi yung pinakamahalaga sa amin, yung nag-uusap-usap yung team bago yung laro. Mahalaga rin mag-isip-isip at matulog nang maaga para sa kondisyon ka paggising at handa kami sa laban,” he shared.
