During his collegiate career with National University, Vince Mangulabnan made it to the UAAP finals four times – three of which were against Ateneo de Manila University.
Mangulabnan helped the Bulldogs seal their second consecutive collegiate title at the expense of the Blue Eagles in the Season 76 finals. That, however, proved the first and last as NU lost the next two titles to the Marck Espejo-led Ateneo.
Indeed, the history is rich between Mangulabnan – currently an assistant coach for the Blue Eagles – and the Katipunan-based squad.
Things took an interesting turn, though, when the veteran setter lined up to reinforce the young Ateneo-Fudgee Barr team in the 2022 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
During the opening day, the inevitable finally happened – Mangulabnan showed up at the Paco Arena wearing Ateneo’s blue and white kits for their opening day game against VNS One-Alicia.
“Sa Ateneo ang priority talaga is aral, so may mga games na baka yung dalawang setter wala talaga,” Mangulabnan said.
“So, para matuloy na makapaglaro lahat and maka-gain ng experience yung mga bata, kailangan namin ng isang setter pa na nandiyan lagi kaya sa Ateneo ako nag-laro.”
It was definitely a weird feeling for Mangulabnan, who last played for Cignal in the 2019 Spikers’ Turf season. But it sure was fulfilling as he finally realized one of his life-long dreams.
“Masaya siyempre. Masaya ako kasi dati isa sa dream school ko ‘to e, so ayun, kahit dream school ko lang siya dati at least ngayon na-experience ko magsuot ng jersey nila ngayon,” said
“Sabi nga nila sa court lang yung rivalry e. Ngayon, doon ako sa rival namin naglalaro.”
Making the moment all the more special for Vince was he got the chance to go up against his youngest brother Jan during the latter part of the fifth frame.
“Syempre proud kuya kasi nakita mo yung bunso mong kapatid na naglalaro, kalaban mo pa,” said Vince.
“Siguro mas masaya kung nagkalaban kami like the whole set, kahit isang set lang sana para at least ma-trashtalk ko ‘man lang sana yung kapatid ko, malaman niya kung gaano ka-trashtalker yung kuya niya.”
