In a rematch of their classic Final Four encounter last season, the National University Bulldogs kept the Adamson University Soaring Falcons grasping for their first win of UAAP Season 79, eking out a tight 24-26, 25-17, 25-23, 28-26 victory at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
As they had in their their first two matches, the Soaring Falcons used their veteran savvy and stingy floor defense to stay within range of the Bulldogs. But the Sampaloc-based spikers, in the end, had too much firepower.
After splitting the first two sets, the Bulldogs found their edge in a hotly-contested third frame thanks to clutch serves from Bryan Bagunas and conversions from skipper Francis Saura. Ahead 2-1, NU had to stave off Adamson’s signature comeback in the fourth set. After going point-for-point all the way to a deuce, the Bulldogs pulled the win away with a block from Kim Malabunga to reach match point, 27-26, followed by clutch dig to a Bagunas smash to punctuate the win.
National University head coach Dante Alinsunurin was pleased with how his wards had finally showed their maturity against an Adamson squad that has always given them problems.
“Makikita mo talaga sa Adamson. Iba ang samahan nang mga ‘yan. ‘Yun din ang gusto kong maipakita nang mga players ko. Kanina maraming times na nahahabol kami pero kumapit kami. Hopefully, ganito ang ipakita namin palagi,” said Alinsunurin.
The league’s leading scorer through three matches, Bryan Bagunas paced the Bulldogs with 22 points off 17 attacks and five aces. Spikers’ Turf MVP Fauzi Ismail tallied 20 points.
The Bulldogs (2-1) next face the struggling De La Salle University Green Spikers (0-2) next Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
“Kahit naman wala pang panalo sila [La Salle], hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax. Kailangan tuloy-tuloy lang kami,” added Alinsunurin.
Soaring Falcons open hitter Mike Sudaria and Jerome Sarmiento led the charge with 16 and 14 points, respectively. The Falcons slid to 0-3, their worst start in nearly a decade.
Adamson will try to rebound against defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (2-0) on Saturday, also at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores
NU (3) – Bagunas 22, Ismail 20, Saura 12, Malabunga 11, Natividad 6, Ancheta 3, Gampong 2, Dayandante 1, Marcos (L)
AdU (1) – Sudaria 16, Sarmiento 14, Yude 13, Pletado 10, Ramirez 7, Pablico 6, Melgar 0, Mendiolla (L)
