The National University Bulldogs opened the curtain on the UAAP Season 79 volleyball season with a straight-set pounding over the University of the East Warriors, 25-23, 25-10, 25-19 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Third year open hitter Bryan Bagunas got his season off right, scoring a career-high 22 points on 20-for-25 attacking while last season’s rookie of the year James Natividad added nine markers.
“Hindi ko ‘rin napansin. Basta ako pag binigay sa akin ‘yung set, papatayin ko lang,” Bagunas said of his breakout performance.
The Warriors managed to keep the first set close but Bagunas poured in the last two points to avoid a deuce. The last two sets turned into romps immediately with Bulldogs taking quick double-digit leads.
“Siguro nagkaroon lang kami nang kaunting kaba kasi nga first game. Pero noong nakalaro na kami, nagkagamayan na, naging kumportable na kami,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin. “Hopefully, tuloy-tuloy lang kami.”
NU (1-0) faces their perennial rivals, Ateneo in a rematch of last season’s Finals on February 8, Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre. UE (0-1), on the other hand, takes on UP on Saturday, February 11.
Edward Camposano tallied 14 points Noel Alba added nine for UE, a team that has lost their 29th match in a row.
The Scores
NU (3) – Bagunas 22, Natividad 9, Saura 7, Gampong 6, Malabunga 6, Ismail 5, Dayandante 2, Ancheta 0, Baysac 0, Marcos (L)
UE (0) – Camposano 14, Alba 9, Lelic 3, Aljas 2, Inoferio 0, Magdaong 0, Ortega 0, Erancio (L)
