The National University (NU) Bulldogs claimed a second straight win in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball. The Bulldog was able to survive against the University of the Philippines (UP) in an intense match, leaving fans and opponents in awe. NU capitalized on the errors made by UP’s Nigerian spiker, Olayemi Rahleem, and produced an exciting match.
The epic tournament is being held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
NU Bulldogs’ Performance
Defending champions, National University (NU) Bulldogs, pulled off a victory by overcoming a third-set stumble, with a point of 25-12, 25-15, 15-25, 25-22 against the well-balanced team University of the Philippines in UAAP Season 87.
The Bulldogs were dominating the sets until the second round. Despite dominating two consecutive sets, NU struggled in the third set, falling 5-12, from which it was very difficult to recover. Their humiliating defeat in the third set left fans and the team in shock.
But, they kept their composure in the fourth set and executed their basic game plan with an 18-all deadlock and a crucial 4-0 run. The two costly attacks from Nigerian spiker Olayemi Raheem further contributed to the victory of NU Bulldogs.
However, UP had faith in themselves and attempted a late rally, followed by an attack error by Aringo and Tommy Castrodes’ off-the-block shot that closed the gap to 22-20. Later on, a fiery attack from Choi Diao finally ended NU’s hard attempt to win the match in one hour and 27 minutes.
Following the win over UP, the coach of the NU Bulldog, Dante Alinsunurin, stated in a press conference, “Our main problem in the third set was our unforced errors, and whenever we gained momentum, we would lose it. In the fourth set, we just set our minds on making sure that everything we did was certain. We couldn’t afford to doubt ourselves. I told them that whenever we face a tough situation, we should go back to the basics and just enjoy what we’re doing. Also, every time we do something good, we should celebrate it because, in some way, it helps boost each other’s confidence.”
Key Players and Their Contributions
In a neck-to-neck competition in UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball, there were several players who performed impressively and took the spotlight.
Buds Buddin from the Bulldogs pulled off 22 points, which includes 17 attacks, three aces, six receptions, and a dig. Some other players who performed outstandingly include:
| Team | Player | Points Scored | Key Contributions |
| NU | Buds Buddin | 22 | 17 attacks, 3 aces, 2 blocks, 6 excellent receptions, and 1 dig |
| NU | Leo Aringo | 16 | 12 attacks, 2 blocks, 2 aces, 10 excellent receptions, and 2 digs |
| NU | Leo Ordiales | 14 | 9 attacks, 5 blocks, and 3 excellent digs |
| NU | Peng Taguibolos | 9 | 5 attacks and 4 blocks |
| NU | Obed Mukaba | 8 | 4 attacks, 3 blocks, 1 ace |
| UP | Olayemi Raheem | 16 | 15 attacks, 1 block, and 2 excellent digs |
| UP | Tommy Castrodes | 13 | 12 attacks, 1 block, 7 excellent receptions, and 3 excellent digs |
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for NU and UP?
After the impressive win over the University of the Philippines (UP), the National University (NU) Bulldogs are aiming for a third win in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball. They will be facing Adamson Falcons, at MOA Arena, on March 12, and UST Golden Spikers, at Smart Araneta Coliseum, on March 16.
Similarly, UP will be looking to make a comeback in the tournament after its loss against the defending champions NU. They are set to face Adamson Falcons, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, on March 16.
Both teams will be looking forward to improving their position on the points table as the tournament continues.
