MANILA, Philippines – Their walls may crack with the passage of time, but the NU dynasty will not crumble just yet.
Despite falling in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball finals, the mighty Bulldogs rallied in the next two games, capped by a gripping 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 Game 3, to conquer the gutsy FEU Tamaraws and complete their historic five-peat on Saturday, May 17, at the rocking Mall of Asia Arena.
With their women’s team already immortalized in championship lore last Wednesday, May 14, with a series sweep of La Salle, the men followed suit with the same grit and composure in front of 14,517 fans, clinching the first five-peat since 1951, in the middle of the legendary FEU program’s 12-title streak from 1946 to 1958.
Leo Ordiales led the balanced attack in the nail-biter with 13 points off 10 attacks and 3 blocks, while Peng Taguibolos stood tall with 5 hits and a game-high 5 rejections for 10 points.
Captain and top support option Leo Aringo was named Finals MVP after tallying 9 points, 10 excellent receptions, and 4 digs, as Buds Buddin also scored 9 with 11 excellent receptions.
Already up 20-12 in the second set, NU nearly had a monumental collapse after giving up a massive 14-5 fightback, even conceding set point first to FEU, 24-23, and again at 26-25, before clutch hero Jade Disquitado woke up with three straight blockbuster bombs – his only points of the match – to steal a commanding two-set lead.
It was all the headway the battle-worn champions needed to keep control of the third frame despite falling behind, 21-19, as they again rallied with a crucial 4-0 surge – capped by back-to-back FEU errors, to take a 23-21 advantage.
Though reserve Luis Miguel stopped the bleeding with a spike for 23-22, he then bungled his serve and gifted championship point to NU, 24-22, as Amet Bituin rallied back with a game-saver, 24-23.
Aringo then wrapped a bow on the match with a push shot off the block to take the razor-thin Set 3 margin, 25-23, and complete the five-peat journey, eclipsing the last closest attempt by UST from Seasons 70 to 73 in 2010 to 2013.
Only two other four-peats happened since the Golden Spikers’ last run: UP from 1978 to 1981 and UE from 1969 to 1973.
With the heartbreaking series loss, the hunt for championship No. 26 will continue for the contending Tamaraws — now on a 13-year drought dating back to Season 74 in 2012. – Rappler.com