National University Bulldogs ultimate goal is uplifting Philippine men’s volley

MANILA, Philippines — There’s more to it than just building a kingdom for the National University Bulldogs in the Philippine collegiate scene.

NU has won five straight and seven overall titles in the past 10 seasons but for coach Dante Alinsunurin, the ultimate goal lies outside the UAAP as the Bulldogs look to expand the success blueprint over to the entire Philippine men’s volleyball landscape.

“Hindi lang ito para sa NU, para sa buong Pilipinas din,” said Alinsunurin as NU became the first team to complete a five-peat in the UAAP Final Four era with a 2-1 series win over Far Eastern U in Season 87.

“Hindi lang kami, hindi lang para sa amin, hindi lang namin gusto mag-champion dito. Gusto din namin ‘yung mga players na lumevel-up hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas kundi sa ibang bansa.”

NU’s fifth straight championship didn’t come easy. It wasn’t handed to the Bulldogs on a silver platter.

NU went unbeaten in the finals in the last four seasons – a streak snapped by Far Eastern U in the series opener. The Bulldogs weren’t to be denied in the end, though, with a reverse sweep capped by a 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 victory in the decider.

But the Bulldogs surely came from a humble beginning. They used to be a nobody in the UAAP, without a single title in the first 74 seasons – until Alinsunurin, a product of Adamson, turned the program around in Season 75 (2013) for their first-ever crown, interestingly also against then-champion FEU.

The rest was history as NU lorded it over the UAAP volleyball across all divisions with its women’s team also ushering in a dynasty under the watch of his fellow Adamson standout Sherwin Meneses and led by the three-time MVP and greatest Lady Bulldog ever in Bella Belen.

“Sobrang thankful lang din sa sitwasyon kasi pinaghirapan talaga mula sa simula. ‘Yung umpisa mahirap mag-recruit kasi ‘di kilala yung team. Talagang hindi kami pinapansin. Sobrang thankful lang na ‘yung pinagtrabahuhan namin is nagbubunga na,” shared the teary-eyed mentor, dedicating the feat to his brother who passed away in the middle of the UAAP Final Four this month.

From there, Alinsunurin architected the NU dynasty that produced a bevy of national team and overseas players including Alas Pilipinas captain Bryan Bagunas, who led the country to a historic silver-medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at home.

Season 87 Finals MVP Leo Aringo Jr., as revealed by Alinsunurin, is overseas bound albeit with a year left in his eligibility for a larger goal than helping NU extend its dynasty.

For Alinsunurin, it’s the school’s commitment to the entire Philippine volleyball more than its own sake. He saw it as the ultimate culmination of the NU dream, and he’s hoping that the UAAP Season 87 witnessed by 14,517 fans in Game 3 – the largest crowd in men’s volleyball history – is just the beginning.

“‘Yun nga eh. Medyo nangingilid luha ko sa nakita ko kanina. Sana hindi lang ngayon. Sana sa mga susunod pang liga ng men’s, lagi silang nandiyan. Kasi parang alam mo sa sarili mo na na-appreciate na talaga ‘yung men’s volleyball dito sa Pilipinas,” he beamed.

“Sana magtuloy-tuloy hindi lang para sa NU community at FEU community ‘yung suporta para sa amin kundi para sa lahat – para sa Philippine men’s volleyball.”