NU Bulldogs keep UAAP crown. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—National University retained its throne after a sweep of Far Eastern University ending in an emphatic 24-26, 25-23, 25-23, 25-19 Game 2 win in the UAAP Season 81 men’s volleyball finals Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bulldogs claimed their fourth overall volleyball title since winning the first one in Season 75 against, as fate had it, the Tamaraws.
Finals MVP Bryan Bagunas carried NU in the clutch, scoring four of his team’s last five points including three straight kills to seal the win.
“Of course I’m happy we’re the champions again, and I’m proud of our performance because it kept on improving until we got here in the finals,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“I’m just ecstatic because of what we’ve achieved this year.”
Bagunas, who was named Finals MVP, finished with a career-high 35 points, practically carrying NU on his back.
Fellow graduating Bulldog Madzlan Gampong had nine points while Rookie of the Year James Natividad had eight.
Richard Solis had 18 points to lead FEU, which had four more players score in double digits.
John Paul Bugaoan, Jude Garcia, Redi John Paler, and Peter Quiel had 11 points apiece.
NU took Game 1 in four sets, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18.