NATIONAL University continued to miss star Bryan Bagunas as it needed to buck a sluggish start before ousting San Beda, 20-25, 25-12, 30-28, 25-16, on Wednesday, clinching a semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at the Arena in San Juan City.
As Bagunas and James Natividad sat out again for their preparation in the UAAP Season 81 Beach Volleyball Tournament in September, the Bulldogs were once again pushed to the limits and even dropped the first set before getting their seventh win in eight outings.
Graduating spiker Madz Gampong took charge, hitting 21 kills and finishing with 22 points.
Rookie Angelo Almendras also stepped up, delivering 17 points and made 24 excellent digs, skipper Francis Saura scored 15 and Banjo Mondero added 10 markers.
Despite clinching the semis ticket with a 7-1 win-loss record for at least second place in the next round, NU coach Dante Alinsunurin was not satisfied.
“Sakto ‘yung naging resulta pero hanggang ngayon nakukulangan pa rin ako sa leadership nung mga nasa loob na ginagamit ko ngayon. Wala kasi si Bryan at si James or siguro masyadong relax lang din,” Alinsunurin said. “Siguro ayaw lang nila manindigan pa na ‘uy andito ako, wala si Bryan. Kailangan ako ‘yung manindigan dito, ako ‘yung magstep up dito, ako ‘yung dapat na magin leader dito.’
“‘Yun na ‘yung naging sistema kaninang first set pa lang parang relax, pangalawang set nagalit na ko sabi ko hindi pepwede to ‘kahit papano dapat lamang tayo sa kanila kasi meron tayong dinadala dito na tayo yung champion ng UAAP,” he added.
NU battles unbeaten leader UST (8-0) on Sunday at 9 a.m. for the No. 1 spot, likely without Bagunas and Natividad.
“Siguro sa Sunday baka hindi ko pa paglaruin baka pagdating na lang ng semis. Pahinga lang muna. Ayoko naman na masunog ‘yung bata marami na pinaglalaruan pinagahahandaan na rin kasi namin yung sa UAAP beach volley,” Alinsunurin said.
Skipper Angelo Torres led the Red Spikers with 12 points, while Jomaru Amagan, Jeffrey Losa and Mark Decano had 11 hits apiece.
San Beda dropped to 2-6, out of semis contention. It takes on University of Perpetual Help (3-5) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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