The last time NU played in a winner-take-all championship game, the Bulldogs oust none other than then erstwhile champion FEU Tamaraws in Season 75.
The hunt for history comes down to one final showdown.
Four-time defending champions National U aim to complete their five-peat title quest, facing the FEU Tamaraws one last time in a winner-take-all Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Finals Saturday, May 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Tip off time is at 2:00 p.m.
It marks NU’s first Finals decider since 2013, a series they also won — against none other than FEU — to start a dominating run of six titles in the last nine years.
National U forced a deciding contest after repulsing the Tamaraws in another marathon slugfest in Game 2.
[ALSO READ: NU displays champion heart as Bulldogs force Game 3 vs FEU in UAAP Season 87 Finals]
The Bulldogs found themselves staring at the brink, down 5-8 in the deciding fifth set. But instead of folding, they flipped the switch — igniting a ke 5-0 run to take a crucial 10-8 cushion.
Despite FEU knotting the score at 10-apiece, NU leaned on a clutch 5-1 finishing kick capped by Jade Disquitado’s emphatic solo block on Dryx Saavedra to seal the win after two hours and 19 minutes of high-stakes volleyball.
Buds Buddin delivered 20 points while Obed Mukaba tallied a career-best 20 markers with six blocks to anchor NU’s defense.
Leo Ordiales and Leo Aringo also contributed 13 and 10 points respectively to provide ample support.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The pressure couldn’t be greater. And for NU — one win away from a five-peat — the moment couldn’t be more historic.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
—
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]