National University (NU) asserted its dominance over Ateneo de Manila University, 30-28, 25-23, 25-16, on Sunday to secure a twice-to-beat incentive in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Michaelo Buddin led the Bulldogs with 15 points built on 10 attacks, three blocks, and two aces, while also tallying eight receptions and seven digs. The win marked NU’s fifth straight and improved their record to 11-2, keeping them at second place behind league-leading Far Eastern University (12-1).
Team captain Leo Aringo Jr. added 12 points, while Jan Lanfred Abanilla had 11. Foreign reinforcement Obed Mukaba and Choi Diao chipped in five points apiece in the one-hour-and-18-minute match.
“Before we came here, we really set our mindset that we needed this game because it would be our advantage come the Final Four,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin. “No matter who I put in, they delivered. I’m extremely thankful.”
Ateneo’s Kennedy Batas led the Blue Eagles with 12 points, while Amil Pacinio and Jian Matthew Salarzon added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
In the second match, De La Salle University outlasted the University of the Philippines (UP) in a five-set thriller, 11-25, 25-18, 25-21, 28-30, 15-9, to secure the last ticket to the semifinals.
Noel Michael Kampton starred for the Green Spikers with 24 points, including the game-clinching crosscourt hit. La Salle improved to 8-4, tying University of Santo Tomas (UST) for third place.
Glen Rui Ventura delivered 16 points, while Nathaniel del Pilar, last season’s 2nd Best Middle Blocker, contributed 11 points, including three blocks.
Jerico Adajar orchestrated La Salle’s offense with 24 excellent sets. Defensive anchor Vince Maglinao recorded 16 receptions and nine digs, while team captain and reigning Best Libero Menard Guerrero collected 15 digs and 15 receptions.
UP’s Olayemi Raheem led all scorers with 25 points on 22 attacks. Daniel Nicolas backed him up with 16 points, including four blocks, as the Fighting Maroons slid to 3-9.
The league will go on a Holy Week break and resume on April 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena, where UST will face UP at 9 a.m., followed by La Salle versus Adamson University at 11 a.m. NU returns to action against UST on April 27 at the Araneta Coliseum.