UAAP men's volley finals: Bulldogs, Tamaraws collide in winner-take-all Game 3

Game Saturday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. – FEU vs NU (Men Finals)

MANILA, Philippines — Four-peat champion National University and challenger Far Eastern University dispute the coveted title in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball finals Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 2 p.m., with the Bulldogs eyeing to follow up on the Lady Bulldogs’ feat earlier this week for the school’s second twin-championship after achieving it together last season.

But more than that, NU has its sights on an unprecedented fifth straight title and seventh overall to further stamp its class as the best men’s collegiate volleyball program today under the tutelage of mentor Dante Alinsunurin.

Achieving it, however, will not be a walk in the park — especially at the jaws of an expected Tamaraws’ charge after being denied a sweep in Game 2.

“Hindi pwedeng sumuko. Proud ako sa team ko na nilaban nila hanggang fifth set noong Game 1. Pero hindi pa tapos. Kailangan pa rin naming pagtrabahuhan sa next game,” said Alinsunurin, the architect of NU’s impenetrable dynasty until now.

NU in its four-peat reign never lost in the finals until Game 1 when the top-ranked FEU pulled off a 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13 stunner to bolster its bid of ending a long drought since its last championship in Season 74 (2012).

The Bulldogs, as expected, retaliated in another five-setter duel in Game 2 with a 25-22, 20-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-11 win witnessed by the largest men’s crowd ever with almost 10,000 fans led behind the efforts of Buds Buddin and Obed Mukaba, to extend the series.

It will now boil down who wants it more, according to Tamaraws coach Eddieson Orcullo as he banks on aces Dryx Saavedra and Amet Bituin.

"Yung nangyari sa game namin, siguro, test of character sa bawat isa sa amin,” said Orcullo as FEU wasted a comfortable 8-5 lead in the fifth set to allow a decider for NU.

"Maganda kasi pag yung nakakauna talagang advantage ka. Siguro, ano lang, trabahuin namin ulit.