NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin's prayer was answered by veteran player Buds Buddin as the Bulldogs force a Game 3 in the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball finals against the FEU Tamaraws.
With their five-peat dreams at stake, NU Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin called forward one of his most formidable players in Buds Buddin to lead the cavalry.
Though nursing an injury, Buddin got the starting nod from the decorated tactician, and he played heavy minutes in all five sets of their grueling, 25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-11, win in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
While Buddin was not physically ready 100% for the Bulldogs, NU was relying on a different quality from the veteran spiker: leadership.
[RELATED: NU displays champion heart as Bulldogs force Game 3 vs FEU in UAAP Season 87 Finals]
Already armed with an arsenal of high-scoring hitters like Obed Mukaba, Leo Ordiales, and Leo Aringo, there was enough fire power to go around even without Buddin.
After the game, Alinsunurin spoke about his veteran hitter that finished with 20 big points to force the Game Three rubber match on Saturday.
Coming off of days mulling over who his starting lineup would be, he settled on Buddin’s tried and tested experience in the championship.
“Sabi ko na kailangan ko ng may nagli-lead sa loob ng court. Hindi 'yung nagsasalita, hindi. Importante kasi 'yung gumagalaw din, kung ano 'yung trabaho niya. And 'yun, naging maganda 'yung resulta kasi kahit na alam mo 'yun, may nagli-lead talaga hindi lang talaga sa vocal, ginagawa talaga,” said Alinsunurin.
“Tinatrabaho niya. Pumunpuntos siya. Dumedepensa siya. Ayun talaga, sobrang thankful ako sa performance niya ngayon kasi may lead na talaga, lumaban talaga.”
In set 5, Buddin involved himself in two straight points for NU to break a deadlock late at 12-10.
Despite the ankle injury still bothering the third-year player, Alinsunurin said that there was just a fire in his player’s eyes that he could not ignore, and luckily for NU, their coaching staff were able to make things work.
“Every time na titingin ako sa kanya, talagang alam mo 'yun? Talagang sinasabi niya coach ipasok mo ko. Pero siyempre as a coach na naging player din, ayaw kong mag-risk talaga,” explained Alinsunurin.
“Pero, kahapon kinausap ko 'yung conditioning coach ko, sabi ko kahit anong mangyari, ilalaban ko, and ayun, ginawan nila ng paraan na maging maayos 'yung galaw niya today,” he continued.
As for Buddin, he prided himself for the team effort that they were able to display to keep a historic bid for the five-peat championship alive.
“Sobrang thankful sa mga teammates ko kasi 'yung talagang team namin na 'pag gumagalaw dapat buo kami as one. So bago pumunta ng MOA talagang tiyanaga namin na sabihin namin na ayun, trabaho lang tayo, bawat isa na tiyagain natin, na buo tayo sa loob ng court,” said Buddin.
“Yung disiplina namin sa bawat puntos talaga, 'yun ang nagpanalo sa amin.”
The NU Bulldogs figure in a winner-take-all Game 3 clash against the FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, May 17.