First-time starting setter Greg Ancheta was at the center of NU’s offense as the Bulldogs achieved a historic 5-peat in UAAP Season 87.
Greg Ancheta had a chip on his shoulder from the moment he stepped on the taraflex in UAAP Season 87 as the NU Bulldogs’ starting setter, replacing team icon Owa Retamar who had graduated the previous year.
With Retamar having been the focal point of NU’s offense in the past years, Ancheta was plunged into a bigger role after his departure and was now in charge of manning the Bulldogs' tremendous firepower.
Despite doubts casting shadows on his skills earlier on in the season, Ancheta was able to learn throughout the year and come out with renewed vigor in their three-game Finals series against the top-ranked FEU Tamaraws.
In the Game 3 clincher on Saturday, Ancheta tossed 16 excellent sets, orchestrating a sweep to win NU's fifth-straight title.
[READ: NU Bulldogs complete historic 5-peat after beating FEU in UAAP Season 87 Finals]
For the second-year player, the championship was the climax of all the hard work he had put in for the Bulldogs. After taking the reins from Retamar, it was a matter of taking the responsibility on the chin.
“Siguro po sakin, minahal ko lang po talaga yung trabaho ko. Kung ano po yung iniwan. Talagang pinagsikapan ko lang po. Pinagtrabahuhan ko,” Ancheta said.
“Sa ensayo, lagi akong may overload, talagang tinatyaga ko po hanggang sa mangiyak-ngiyak na ko. Meron sa isang beses sa isang training, di ko kinaya pero, minahal ko lang po talaga yung trabaho na iniwan sakin.”
Even NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin was left wanting more from Ancheta earlier on in the season, especially after seeing his veteran setter Retamar perform so well the seasons before.
But for Ancheta, Alinsunurin’s persistence in pushing him to his limit helped him overcome everything.
“Para sakin po, talagang malaking bagay lang din na ginagawa sakin ni coach yung didikdikin ako para mas mailabas ko pa yung full potential,” he said.
“Dun ko rin naman nakukuha yung tapang sa paglalaro at nakapagisip ng maayos,” he added.
Of course, Ancheta also had the help of his senior, who had been providing him with key advice as the season went on. At the end of the day, everything came to a fruitful ending with the championship.
“Siguro lang po, yung sinasabi [ni Owa sakin] na matagal naman na akong naglalaro, bakit kailangan ko pa matakot. Maglaro lang ako ng may pagmamahal sa volleyball,” Ancheta said.