With their backs against the wall and their historic ‘five-peat’ dream hanging by a thread, National University made the boldest move yet — turning to an injured Buds Buddin to save their season.
Still nursing a right ankle sprain, Buddin hadn’t started a match since NU’s second-round sweep of Ateneo on April 13. But in a do-or-die Game 2 against Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Finals, head coach Dante Alinsunurin finally rolled the dice — and it paid off.
With the pressure mounting and the Bulldogs on the brink of elimination, Buddin returned to the starting lineup and delivered a heroic performance that kept NU’s historic bid for a fifth straight title alive.
The Bulldogs clawed their way to a thrilling five-set win, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 scheduled for Saturday, 2:00 PM, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite still not being at full strength, Buddin — known as the pride of Palawan — refused to let NU surrender their crown. He rose to the occasion in front of a crowd of 9,997 fans, erupting for a team-high 20 points, while also tallying 11 excellent receptions and two digs.
“Actually, hindi pa ako 100-perecent kasi talagang masakit pa. And thankful ako sa conditioning coach namin at sa PT namin na si Coach Gab. Everytime kahit gabi talaga, tyinatiyaga niya ako sa dorm na i-workout yung ankle ko,” Buddin said, crediting the team’s physical therapists for his timely return.
“Nasa isip ko noon na kailangan ko agad makabalik. Kahit hindi ako one hundred-percent, kailangan ko makabalik. Kailangan ko makapag-contribute sa team. Hindi ko naman hayaan na natatalo yung team namin.”
He went on, “Siyempre, isa ko sa mga senior na. Yung pinaghirapan ng mga senior namin, tiniyaga nila yung ‘four-peat.’ Ayaw ko lahat masayang yun. Nung nagri-rehab ako talagang tiyaga nang tiyaga. Sabi ko pag nakabalik ako, talagang magko-contribute ako.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Beyond scoring, Buddin brought leadership and composure — exactly what the Bulldogs needed when they found themselves in a 5-8 hole early in the fifth set. Instead of folding, NU regrouped and rallied behind clutch contributions from Jade Disquitado and Jonas Hernandez, who helped fuel a 10-3 closing run that sealed the match.
“Siguro mas lumabas lang siguro yung maturity namin sa court. Yung experience namin siguro mas lumabas. Ayun, siguro, ang nakita ko lang naging advantage din namin siguro is yung naging blockings din namin. Nache-check namin hanggang sa nako-convert namin into points. Dun nag-start yung momentum, na napunta sa’min,” said Buddin, reflecting on the team’s resolve.
“Nong fifth set sabi namin di pa naman tapos. Andito naman ulit tayo sa ganitong sistema, sanay tayo sa ganito. So tiyagain lang natin na every single point makapuntos tayo nang unti-unti lang, isa-isahin lang natin. Hanggang sa, ayun, nagbunga lahat ng effort ng bawat isa sa amin. Hindi lang sa loob, pati sa labas talagang nagchi-cheer na rin sa amin,” he added.
For Alinsunurin, starting Buddin was not a decision made lightly. It took him two days to decide whether to gamble on the third-year outside hitter. But when it mattered most, Buddin proved he was the leader NU needed — not just in words, but through action.
“Alam mo, dalawang araw ko yan pinagisipan kung sino talaga gagamitin ko. Siguro, talagang kanina lang or kagabi, sabi ko na kailangan ko ng may nagllead sa loob ng court. Hindi yung nagsasalita, hindi. Importante kasi yung gumagalaw din, kung ano yung trabaho niya,” he said.
“And yun, naging maganda yung resulta kasi kahit na alam mo yun, may nagli-lead talaga hindi lang talaga sa vocal, ginagawa talaga. Tinatrabaho niya. Pumunpuntos siya at dumedepensa siya,” the decoared head coach added.
“Ayun talaga, sobrang thankful ako sa performance niya ngayon kasi may lead na talaga, lumaban talaga.”
Now with the momentum on their side, the Bulldogs have one more shot to make history — and thanks to Buds Buddin, they’re still very much in the fight.
#WATCH: Dante Alinsunurin, Leo Ordiales, and Buds Buddin reflect on their Game 1 stumble and lay out the game plan to keep their #UAAPSeason87 title dreams alive 🏐
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/JzFL3tzSTp
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 11, 2025
