The National University Bulldogs kept pace for top billing in the UAAP Season 80 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, sweeping the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22, at the FilOil Flying V Center.
The Bulldogs improved to 8-1, winning their seventh straight while UST plummeted to 3-6, dropping their fifth consecutive match.
Last season’s runners-up controlled the entire match, never allowing UST an extended look at the lead. While the usually wasteful UST limited their errors to just 19, the Tiger Spikers allowed the Bulldogs to control the net via a 14-3 block kills deficit.
NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin was happy to see his team play consistently against a dangerous UST side.
“Hindi mo pwedeng basta-bastahin ang UST kahit galing sila sa mga talo. May mga magagaling din silang players pati coaches,” said Alinsunurin.
“Maganda talaga siguro gising ng mga bata. Maganda execution namin, nakaka-receive, kaunti lang ang errors,” he added as NU had just 18 errors.
National team stalwart Bryan Bagunas continued his offensive hot streak, leading the Bulldogs with 19 points. Middle blocker Kim Malabunga added 14 markers.
UE transferee Joshua Umandal was the only Tiger Spiker in double-digits with 15 points.
Both squads play their next assignments on Sunday at the FilOil Flyimg V Centre. NU faces the DLSU Green Spikers (3-5) while UST takes on the UE Red Warriors (0-8).
The Scores
NU (3) – Bagunas 19, Malabunga 14, Saura 10, Ismail 6, Natividad 5, Dayandante 2, Ancheta 0, Ganpong, Mondero 0, Marcos (L)
UST (0) – Umandal 15, Carodon 8, Sumagaysay 7, Medina 5, Bautista 4, Arbasto 1, Tajanlangit 1, Casillan 0, Sawal (L)
