NATIONAL University is one win away from its fourth straight UAAP men’s volleyball championship.
The Bulldogs finally got one over the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers in the much-important Game 1 of the Season 86 best-of-three finals, 25-17, 26-24, 25-19, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
After losing twice to UST in the eliminations, National U finally prevailed in the match that mattered most.
READ: What to expect when UST and NU meet in UAAP Finals for first time
The Bulldogs seek to close out the best-of-three series in Game 2 at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game 3, if necessary, is on Saturday (May 18) at the same Pasay venue.
“Sa naging performance namin naging maganda yung resulta. Ito yung hinihintay ko sa mga players ko na nagsabay-sabay sila in terms of skills floor defense, atake namin, blockings namin nandito lahat ngayon,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
The Golden Spikers opened the game on fire, building an early 7-3 lead, but the Bulldogs rallied behind Leo Aringo to turn the tables and take the first set by eight, 25-17.
Josh Ybañez had back-to-back kills to extend the second set, 24-24, but Michaelo Buddin came up with the response in the form of a push shot right through the arms of Dux Yambao to regain the lead, 25-24.
Ybañez answered with a crosscourt shot but NU called for an antenna touch challenge and after the review, it was deemed successful to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 set lead, 26-24.
Then in the third, Buddin and graduating Nico Almendras connived to build a comfortable cushion halfway en route to the dominant straight-sets win in just one hour and 24 minutes.
Graduating setter Owa Retamar masterfully steered NU’s offense with 24 excellent sets, leading three players in double digits. He also had five points of his own.
Almendras and Buddin each delivered 16 points. Almendras registered an impressive 19-of-30 clip in receptions while Buddin got nine receptions.
“Kailangan pa namin pagtrabahuhan kasi alam namin yung UST gustong-gusto rin niyan manalo kaya alam namin na mas magpiprepare sila nang maayos and kami rin, magpiprepare nang maayos para makuha namin yung four-peat,” said Buddin.
Aringo also had 15 points including three blocks for the Bulldogs.
On the other hand, Ybañez was the lone Golden Spiker in double digits with 11 points on 10 spikes and a service ace.
Popoy Colinares and Sherwin Umandal had nine points apiece while Gboy De Vega got eight points to go with 20 excellent receptions out of 26 attempts.
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