Four-peat-seeking National University continued to own the number of top seed Far Eastern University, repeating with a 25-22, 25-21, 25-20 win to clinch at least a playoff for a twice-to-beat incentive come the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Final Four, Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Bulldogs were the only team to beat the Tamaraws in the elimination round to enter the semifinals with an 11-3 record.
NU escaped FEU last March 6, 25-22, 21-25, 25-14, 23-25, 18-16.
NU now hopes for a De La Salle University (10-3) loss against University of Santo Tomas on Saturday to secure the twice-to-beat advantage.
The Bulldogs will play the Green Spikers in a playoff for No. 2 if the Taft-based side beats the Golden Spikers.
“Sobrang happy ako sa naging performance namin. Importante lang sa amin mag training lang ulit kami kung ano man ang mangyari sa last game ng elimination round,” said Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin as they are assured to face La Salle in the next round but what their rank would be remains hanging in the balance.
The Tamaraws, who wrapped up the eliminations with the best record at 12-2 that secured them the Final Four incentive, will take on the fourth-ranked Golden Spikers (8-5) in the other pairing.
It was tied at 16 in the third period when Joshua Retamar decided to do things on his own with an attack and a kill block to go with an FEU error to create the much-needed separation, 19-16.
Peng Taguibolos, Choi Diao, Nico Almendras, and Michaelo Buddin then chipped in for the NU win in one hour and 27 minutes.
Buddin made his way back to the starting lineup for the first time this season and did not disappoint, pouring in a game-high 17 points on 15-of-27 attacks, a block, and an ace along with 11 excellent receptions.
Almendras also produced 15 points, while Leo Aringo and Diao got 11 and nine points, respectively.
Retamar steered the Bulldogs offense with 17 excellent sets while also scoring eight points built on five blocks.
JJ Javelona was the lone FEU spiker in double digits with 13 points with five receptions as Andrei Delicana and Dryx Saavedra tallied eight points apiece.
The Tamaraws almost had a flawless game in terms of errors, recording only eight but lagged in the spiking and blocking departments, 37-53 and 6-11.
