UAAP: NU Bulldogs reach 10th straight finals, eliminate UST
NU Bulldogs celebrate after clinching their 10th consecutive finals appearance in UAAP men’s volleyball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball tournament FINALS
MANILA, Philippines — National University kept its five-peat dream alive after overcoming University of Santo Tomas, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23, for a return trip to the men’s volleyball finals in the UAAP Season 87 on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite squandering a twice-to-beat advantage in a four-set loss last game, the Bulldogs’ championship poise was in full display, marching their way to their 10th straight finals.
READ: UAAP: UST topples NU, forces Final Four do-or-die
NU’s winning moment!
The Bulldogs save their five-peat dream after overcoming the UST Golden Spikers. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/bjtWQU0KyG
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 7, 2025
NU tallied the longest streak in the men’s volleyball finals, surpassing UST’s nine consecutive from Seasons 57 to 65.
Leo Ordiales stepped up when it mattered most for the Bulldogs, leading the way with 20 points off 19 attacks and a block to withstand their challengers in the past two UAAP finals.
“I’m really thankful to my players for giving us this win. We played really well. I think we won this game because we really planned out what we needed to do, especially when it came to matchups,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin in Filipino after coaching despite the passing of his brother.
“That last loss was really tough. It threw us off for almost a whole day. I told the players that this kind of situation is exactly what we need. These struggles are what will make us better. And they responded. I could already tell they were ready for this game—they prepared both mentally and physically. I knew they wouldn’t back down this time.”
Buds Buddin, who missed the Final Four opener due to a right ankle injury, returned and gave his team a boost in the last two sets by making the winning plays.
Tied at 23, Buddin sent NU at match point and dug two-time MVP Josh Ybañez’s attack in the next play that led to Jade Disquitado’s game-winning attack.
Buddin delivered seven points in two sets played, as Disquitado also stepped up with 14 points and 11 excellent receptions with Greg Ancheta pacing the Bulldogs with 18 excellent receptions.
“I’m super grateful to Buddin. Last game, I was planning to sub him in any time, but I decided to hold off and allow him to recover. That patience really paid off because he performed well today. I’m just really thankful for this win, and I hope we can keep the momentum going,” said Alinsunurin.
“In the second set, we were really down. I told the team I’d try putting in Buddin, just in case things didn’t go our way. I wanted to see what changes I might need to make in the third set. And thankfully, despite a rough start, we still won. I’m super thankful because even if he wasn’t feeling 100%, he still gave his all and fought through pain.
The Bulldogs booked a 2019 finals rematch against the top seeded Far Eastern University Tamaraws in a best-of-three title series starting on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the same venue.
READ: UAAP: NU reasserts mastery over UST ahead of men’s Final Four
FEU dispatched La Salle in their Final Four matchup last Sunday. The Tamaraws only lost once throughout the season with their only defeat coming at the hands of the Bulldogs in the second round.
The six-time UAAP champion displayed grace under pressure, fighting back from a 21-23 deficit in the second frame as Buddin’s off-the-block hit equalized the game at 23.
Choi Diao drilled a huge block on Ybañez to reach set point, 24-23, as GBoy De Vega committed a costly attack error that sent NU to the verge of the finals with a 2-0 lead.
NU blew a 21-17 lead in Set 1 with a successful net fault challenge by UST, followed by Ybañez’s drop knotted the frame at 23-all.
Ordiales, who had seven points in the first set, stopped the bleeding before Obed Mukaba nailed a big block on Ybañez’s attempt to draw first blood.
UST settled for bronze after back-to-back runner-up finishes the past two seasons.
Ybañez led UST with 14 points, 13 receptions, and five digs. De Vega had 12 points and 16 receptions, while Jay Rack De La Noche added eight points.
