National University (NU) kicked off its V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge campaign with a four-set victory over the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD), rebounding from a second-set stumble to secure a 25-21, 22-25, 25-14, 25-22 win at the Paco Arena in Manila Wednesday.
Drawing firepower from a mix of seasoned players and newcomers, NU dominated the NCAA defending champions despite a performance marred by 43 errors.
“Yung players namin, yung iba bago… Medyo yung gelling, medyo nangangapa pa, pero yung sistema naman nandoon, tsaka ang dami namin unforced errors,” NU assistant coach Dong Dela Cruz said postgame.
“Yung errors namin, yun yung nagbibigay ng momentum sa kanila ‘eh,” he added.
UPHSD showed grit in the fourth set, battling back from 13-17 down to force a tie at 20.
UPHSD displayed grit in the fourth set, battling back from a 13-17 deficit to tie at 20.
NU team captain Leo Aringo, however, took charge, delivering key hits that the Altas couldn’t handle. He scored three of NU’s last five points to seal the victory for the Bulldogs, who placed fifth last year.
After dropping the second set, the Bulldogs found their groove in the third frame, leading by as many as 12 points (21-9) after a through-the-block hit by Jan Abanilla. A backrow attack by Michaelo Buddin and an ace by Obed Mukaba propelled NU to a 2-1 set advantage.
Earlier, NU’s errors (11) allowed the Altas to steal the second set, capped by a Jefferson Marapoc off-the-block attack. NU broke a 20-all tie in the first set with a 5-1 run, capped by an Abanilla hit and a block by Mukaba.
Buddin and Aringo led the Bulldogs with 17 points each, while Abadilla and Mukaba combined for 30 markers. Kobe Tabuga paced the Altas with 13 points.
Next up for NU is a matchup against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Sunday, Aug. 4, while Perpetual seeks to bounce back in an NCAA finals rematch against Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
