DANTE Alinsunurin didn’t have the luxury of easing into the week.
Instead, the veteran tactician found himself navigating back-to-back five-set battles across two leagues in a demanding three-day stretch, squeezing out wins the hard way with both National University and Choco Mucho.
READ: Choco Mucho sends ZUS Coffee packing with gutsy five-set win
Last Sunday, Alinsunurin steered six-peat-seeking National U to a gritty 28-26, 17-25, 24-26, 25-11, 15-8 comeback win over erstwhile unbeaten UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball leader Far Eastern University.
Two days later, it was deja vu but in the PVL this time as Choco Mucho showed the same resolve, rallying from a 1-2 deficit to turn back ZUS Coffee, 21-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-11, 15-11, and advance to the second phase of the 2026 All-Filipino Conference play-ins.
In both matches, Alinsunurin’s squads had to claw back from two sets to one down, leaning on composure and late-game execution to survive.
It’s a pattern that speaks to the identity of his teams, but also to the coach himself.
For Alinsunurin, these pressure-packed situations are not a burden as they are part of the job he continues to embrace.
“Isa lang ‘yung masasabi ko talaga, na gusto ko talaga ‘yung ginagawa ko eh,” he said.
“Kung anuman ‘yung sitwasyon na nag-fifth set kami, natalo, nanalo, basta gusto mo ‘yung trabaho mo talaga.”
True to the grind
At this point in his career, the grind is familiar.
Balancing responsibilities between a collegiate powerhouse chasing history and a pro club eyeing a deep run is no small task. Yet Alinsunurin remains as engaged as ever, drawing energy from the very challenges that come with it.
The long matches, the quick turnarounds, the constant adjustments, all of it comes with the territory.
And for him, it is all worth it.
“Nag-eenjoy pa rin ako sa ginagawa ko,” he said.
“As long as nakakatulong pa ako sa teams ko, kung ano pa ‘yung pwede kong matulong, mag-aaral ako para mabigay ko sa kanila ‘yung mga dapat pa nilang gawin pagdating sa mga laro.”
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