With Bulldogs' title win, NU strengthens dynastic reign in UAAP volleyball
At A Glance
- Gone were the days of National University men's and women's teams hanging at the bottom of the UAAP volleyball standings, because in the new era, it seemed they became the standard in the collegiate scene.
(UAAP Media)
Gone were the days of National University men’s and women’s teams hanging at the bottom of the UAAP volleyball standings, because in the new era, it seemed they became the standard in the collegiate scene.
The proof? The Bulldogs extended their reigns and completed a rare five-peat, while the Lady Bulldogs snared their first back-to-back crown and third in four years in their respective divisions in the UAAP Season 87.
Not to be outdone, NU Nazareth School ruled the girls' category.
The results were a testament of how NU has successfully developed its volleyball programs throughout the years, producing some of the country’s best spikers who are now making a name for themselves in the pro ranks.
The school’s latest achievement came in the men’s division over the weekend, where the Bulldogs outlasted the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the rubber match of their best-of-three finals series.
NU coach Dante Alinsunurin was grateful for the support not only for his stalwarts, but to the whole men’s volleyball after 14,517 energetic fans trooped to the venue in Game 3 of their finals. After all, he saw the growth of men’s volleyball, which wasn’t as popular as their female counterparts, over the past years.
“Sobrang thankful lang sa nagiging situation, kasi pinaghirapan talaga to magmula sa simula eh,” he said.
“Parang nangyari lang is nung simula, di kami pinapansin. Tingin ko lang yung mga bagay naming pinagtatrabuhan is nagbubunga [na],” he added. Alinsunurin hoped the growth would continue for the sport in general.
“Sana mag-continue pa, sabi ko nga, hindi lang gusto namin mag-champion, gusto rin namin mag-level up din dito sa Pilipinas pati na rin sa ibang bansa,” he said.