From being benched to becoming one of the biggest factors in National University’s title run in UAAP Season 86, Leo Aringo has experienced it all.
During his initial stint with the Bulldogs when the league resumed play in Season 85, Aringo barely saw court time as an outside hitter. He had to share time with Nico Almendras and Michaelo Buddin, two of the most spectacular outside spikers of that season. Despite NU’s stunning 16-0 sweep of Season 85, the then-22-year-old pride of Davao City admitted that he was lost, unsure of how to showcase his abilities.
“Yung journey ko sobrang hirap talaga,” Aringo told Tiebreaker Times.
“Nung Season 85 talaga, naguguluhan talaga yung isip ko, bakit hindi ako napapasok, ang daming questions sa utak ko na, ‘Bakit hanggang dito lang ako? Bakit hindi ko malagpasan yung limit ko?‘” he asked to himself.
Then his purpose became clear. During the 2023 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge, head coach Dante Alinsunurin appointed Aringo as the team’s substitute captain while Owa Retamar and Nico Almendras rested after their Season 85 championship run. Apart from the challenge of being the captain, he was also converted from an outside spiker to an opposite hitter. He took this personally and vowed not to waste the opportunity.
“Nung naging substitute captain ako ng team namin nung V-League kasi hindi pa naglalaro si Kuya Owa, ako yung napiling substitute captain sa amin and nakita ko na need ko talaga mag step up kahit hindi ako ang pinakamalakas sa court, need kong mag step up para sa team ko. Naglalaro ako para sa team ko,” said Aringo.
“Ayun nag opposite ako, fit sa akin. Nakita ko yung area ko kung saan ako magdodominate,” he added.
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He held onto that firmly, securing the starting opposite position for the Bulldogs in Season 86, and true to his words, he dominated, especially in the crucial games for National U.
The Bulldogs reached the Finals but faced the UST Golden Spikers, a team that had defeated them twice in the elimination round. However, Aringo and the rest of NU were unfazed, blanking UST in Game 1 with a score of 25-17, 26-24, 25-19. Aringo, named player of the game, unleashed 15 points on 12 attacks and three blocks.
In Game 2, the Bulldogs sealed the deal with a 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15 win for their fourth straight championship. Aringo contributed significantly, scoring 22 points on 18-of-35 attacks, three blocks, and one ace along with nine digs.
“Sobrang pasasalamat ko lang kay God at sa coaches ko kasi yun nga yung tiwala nila sa akin nitong Finals, first Finals appearance ko sa NU na nakapasok ako sa loob. Yung tiwala ng mga coaches talaga nagboost sa akin, yun yung motivation ko pati yung tiwala ng teammates ko,” said the 6-foot-3 hitter from Davao City.
“Alam naman ng lahat hindi ako isa sa mga ace players sa amin basta need ko lang magcontribute, tumulong lagi. Yun lang yung goal ko sa team namin, tumulong kahit hindi ako yung pinakamalakas makatulong lang ako.”
Now, he looks forward to maintaining National U’s winning tradition as he is next in line to lead the team next season with Retamar, Almendras, and Mano Sumagui set to leave due to graduation. He has no doubt that they can extend their reign to a five-peat next year with their coaching staff led by Alinsunurin.
“Bagong challenge sa amin lalo na sa coaches kung paano namin bubuuin ulit yung solid na team. Siguro pagtiyagaan pa namin sa ensayo kahit sino pang ilagay diyan tulungan namin na maibalik yung peak ng NU,” said Aringo, who can still play for two more years.
“Confident ako na kayang-kaya mag five-peat kasi nandiyan yung coaches namin, nandiyan yung mga supporters namin, yung managers namin, at mga boss namin nandiyan sila.”
