The National University Bulldogs men’s volleyball team is back in the finals for the fourth straight season.
Outside hitters Bryan Bagunas and Madzlan Gampong and main man James Natividad made sure of this as they led the Bulldogs past a stubborn Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 19-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23 in the 78th University Athletic Association of the Philippines volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bulldogs needed a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes to finally put away the Soaring Falcons, who forced a rubber match by winning their first encounter, 23-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-22, also at the MOA Arena.
With the win, the Bulldogs arranged a finals showdown with the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, who beat them for the crown last year.
The two will meet in Game 1 on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
Recovering from an injury, the 6’4 Bagunas, hit 13 of 14 points on attacks, including a spike that broke a 23-all deadlock in the fourth set.
Meanwhile, the La Salle Lady Spikers made it back to the women’s finals for a sixth straight year following a 25-15, 27-25, 25-21 victory over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the women’s side of the UAAP volleyball competitions.
With the win, the Lady Spikers arranged a best-of-three finals affair against defending champion Ateneo Lady Eagles.
Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo scored the crucial points as La Salle sealed a finals showdown against Atenbeo for the fifth time since 2012.
“Makakapahinga na nang konti. Ang hirap pumasok sa finals na do or die. Hindi katulad ng kalaban mo nakapahinga na,” said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus.
The Lady Spikers were forced a rubber match with FEU after the Lady Tams won their first Final Four clash last Sunday, 15-25, 23-25, 25-23,25-21, 16-14.