MADNESS awaits spectators at the Smart Araneta Coliseum this afternoon, as the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament Final Four heads into the hot rubber match.
Without a question, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers remain the season’s show-stopper, forcing a deciding match against the defending champions National University (NU) Bulldogs.
The Golden Spikers fought hard in the first two sets of the Final Four then recovered from a disappointing third set to defeat the Bulldogs 26-24, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18.
Fortunately for National U, finishing second in the elimination round gave them a twice-to-beat advantage, which is an essential cushion when facing a very formidable UST squad.
Taking A Familiar Road
Being in a disadvantaged position is nothing new for the tenacious UST team. Last season, the España-based squad finished fourth in the rankings and still managed to advance to the finals.
This was against the top-seeded Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, who had a 12-2 record after the elimination stage that swept them in two regular season games. This did not deter the Golden Spikers.
Now, despite the fact that the odds were stacked in their favor due to their history, and the series has now been reduced to a knockout game, Gboy de Vega, who stepped up big time, believes the team must go on.
“There’s this person na nagsabi samin, na don’t stay in your past. Kumbaga, kung ano ‘yung mga nangyari before, tapos na po ‘yun eh kaya win ‘yung sinisigaw namin na what’s important is now,” De Vega said.
“Nageemphasize kami kung gaano kaimportante ‘yung kasalukuyan kasi ‘yun lang yung kaya namin controlin at yun yung kaya namin paglabanan.”
“Yung past, tapos na eh. So yun, what’s important is now kaya ‘yung point na inaano namin, pinaghihirapan talaga namin, each and every point, and each every set, and hanggang sa nakuha namin myung isang game,” he added.
Defend The Throne
Given the intensity of the game from start to finish, one could argue that it could have gone either way. Despite this, the Bulldogs understand that the most essential thing is that they bounce back today.
Dante Alinsunurin, the Bulldogs’ head coach, believes that confidence may be a double-edged sword. Unfortunately, the confidence they had coming into the last game went against them when it counted most.
“Sobrang nagkumpyansa kami sa laro. Sobrang kumpyansa talaga. Para sa akin, ‘yon lang yung naging problem talaga kasi nandoon naman kami nung first and second sets,” the tatician said.
“Talagang nalagay lang namin yung sarili namin sa alanganin na sitwasyon kung saan nagrelax kami.”
“Pero sabi ko nga, sa pagkatalo, may chance pa para makabawi. Dapat ipakita nila yung itsura at yung manner na gusto nila manalo para sa NU,” he added.
With a five-peat bid on the line, will the Bulldogs handle their business and return to the final? Or will the Golden Spikers able to overcome another twice-to-beat deficit?
One thing is certain: the FEU Tamaraws are already waiting, while the National U Bulldogs and UST Golden Spikers must decide who is the superior team in their knockout game, which begins at 2:00 p.m.
