NU coach Dante Alinsunurin. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
National University has just one chance to make it right in the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament, and its head coach Dante Alinsunurin knows how they can stave off another bitter loss to defending champions Ateneo.
“I hope they don’t doubt themselves next game, because it seems they are asking themselves if they have a chance,” said Alinsunurin Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum after losing to the Blue Eagles in five sets 25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13 in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball Finals.
“Every time we’re inside the court, we will have to work. If we have to bust our behinds for those points, we’ll bust our behinds.”
NU displayed its grit in the fifth set when it tied the match at 13 after falling 13-8.
Defending three-time MVP Marck Espejo, however, made sure the Blue Eagles kept their distance from the Bulldogs after firing a long-range down-the-line kill and Rex Intal eventually finished things off with a block.
Alinsunurin said it was his team’s lack of fortitude in the latter stages of the match that doomed them against the defending champions.
“I think Fauzi [Ismail] doubted himself because in that situation (where he had a spike against Rex) he was already in a spot for a kill,” said Alinsunurin. “But at least we’re able to keep things close, we weren’t blown away.”
“I hope that we’ll do a better job in our next game.”