TWO-time defending champion National University booked a return trip to the UAAP men’s volleyball finals after disposing of University of Santo Tomas, 25-18, 25-23, 25-23, on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
NU, which won 26-24, 28-26, 23-25, 25-21 on Wednesday, completed the fightback against twice-to-beat UST and set up a title series with Ateneo for the second straight year.
“Lumabas talaga. ’Yun ang hinahanap namin dati pa noong nagsisimula ’yung second round ng elimination mabuti talaga lumabas na ang laro namin,” said Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin.
[See Ateneo back in finals after four-set win over Adamson; NU forces semis decider against UST]
Four Bulldogs scored in double digits, with Peter Torres coming up with 13 points, skipper Reuben Inaudito and Edwin Tolentino chipping in with 12 apiece and Jan Paglinawan contributing 11.
Although NU was zero from the service line compared to UST’s three service aces, the Bulldogs earned 22 points from the Tigers’ errors while committing only nine miscues.
Mark Alfafara, who registered a league record 37 points in their previous match, was limited to just 17, while Romnick Rico scored 14 for UST.
The Espana-based spikers missed the finals for third straight year after they won the title in 2010 and placed second to Far Eastern University in 2011.
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