Games on Sunday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m. — FEU vs NU (Men Finals)
5 p.m. — NU vs DLSU (Women Finals)
AND the National University (NU) dynasty is still standing loud and proud in the UAAP men’s volleyball realm.
Four-peat champion NU took care of business against University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23, to clinch its 10th straight finals appearance in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball knockout on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The NU Bulldogs dropped the Final Four series opener, 24-26, 25-27, 25-19, 18-25, but still made the most out of their twice-to-beat advantage as the second seed to march on behind a proven and tested pedigree.
NU needed only 85 minutes to seal the deal, thus arranging a best-of-three titular showdown against No. 1 seed Far Eastern University (FEU) starting on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
FEU, with a similar win-once bonus, on Saturday made short work of No. 4 De La Salle University, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20, to take the first finals seat.
And as much as the Bulldogs had a harder time figuring out the fourth-seeded Golden Spikers, whom they swept last finals and twice this season, one win was enough to propel them to record-breaking 10th straight finale stint.
Leo Ordiales fired 20 points while Jade Disquitado added 14 as NU erased the nine consecutive finals appearances of Santo Tomas in the 90s to 2000s from Season 57 to 65. NU also tied the record of La Salle women’s team for the longest streak in UAAP volleyball history.
NU did, repelling every resistance from Santo Tomas in a gutsy sweep — especially in the second set where it unleashed a 4-0 closeout to erase a 21-23 deficit capped by a hit from returning ace Buds Buddin.
Mr. Buddin missed the last two games due to an ankle sprain and contributed seven points in the big win that kept the Bulldogs’ five-peat alive.
Two-time MVP Josh Ybañez and Game 1 hero Gboy de Vega had 14 and 12 points, respectively, in the Golden Spikers’ early exit this time after a runner-up finish last season. — John Bryan Ulanday
