Reigning UAAP champions National University fought fire with fire as it halted La Salle’s hot start, crafting a come-from-behind 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-22, 15-11 victory in the men’s V-League Collegiate Challenge on Wednesday at Paco Arena.
Eyeing the top four slots to qualify for the looming semifinals, Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin, who is back from a bronze medal tilt with Choco Mucho in Vietnam, knows how important securing a third win was for the Bulldogs.
“I told them ‘We need to adjust ourselves’ because we only lost the first two sets due to unforced errors,” Alinsunurin said after the Bulldogs shrugged off a rough start before clinching three tight sets against the Green Spikers.
“I reminded them that our problem is not our foes, but ourselves, how we deliver the system that we want to do on the court,” Alinsunurin added.
The Bulldogs showed signs of life in the third set with improved defensive awareness and fighting La Salle’s offense with their own firepower to prolong the match.
The Green Spikers surrendered errors in that set and widened NU’s lead before the Bulldogs delivered a 7-2 scoring run to shift the momentum to their side.
Bulldogs captain Leo Aringo spearheaded the rally with 23 points while Michaelo Buddin contributed 26 to lift NU to third spot with a 3-1 card.
“[Looking forward] to maintain our performance and even elevate our game in the upcoming matches,” Alinsunurin said in Filipino.
NU opened the final set with a 4-1 run. The Bulldogs then leaned on their net defense and setters finding Buddin for a 12-8 lead before Aringo finished the match with back-to-back kills.
“I was so impressed with their performance because I did not expect that they would still deliver with a new setter and new teammates on the court,” Alinsunurin said.
“They (Buddin and Aringo) really matured being in these kinds of battles, learning who to rely on,” the Bulldogs coach said praising his aces. “He (newly appointed team captain Aringo) has a huge responsibility not only with the team but also inside the court.”
La Salle captain JM Ronquillo paced the Green Spikers with 29 points while Noel Kampton had 19 in the losing stand.
In the women’s division, Clo Mondoñedo led College of St. Benilde with 12 excellent sets to sustain a 3-0 win streak at the expense of Mapua University, 25-16, 25-22, 25-20, before the Perpetual Help Lady Altas triumphed against Enderun Colleges, 25-27, 25-14, 25-22, 25-19.