NU Bulldogs keep five-peat bid alive with Game 2 win vs. FEU

National University showed its championship pedigree, overcoming Far Eastern University, 25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-11, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball finals on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs survived a grueling five-set affair to drag the top-seeded Tamaraws to a deciding Game 3, where history will be made: either a fifth straight crown for NU or a first title in 13 years for FEU.

All eyes will be on the quintet of Buds Buddin, Leo Ordiales, Leo Aringo, Obed Mukaba, and Peng Taguibolos, all of whom played key roles in their Game 2 escape. 

Buddin led the show with 20 points, 11 receptions, and two digs while Mukaba and Taguibolos conspired in their net defense, combining for nine blocks with the import also churning out 14 attacks. Ordiales and Aringo chipped in 11 and nine markers apiece as they spoiled FEU's early celebrations. 

These were exactly what NU needed from the veterans as FEU raced to a crucial 8-5 lead in the fifth set following a costly net error from the Bulldogs. 

But the Tamaraws fell flat in the succeeding plays after NU unleashed a 5-0 run that came from four FEU attack errors and one down-the-line hit from Budding that saw the five-peat seeking NU take a 10-8 cushion. 

FEU was then able to force another deadlock when middle blocker Lirick Mendoza got a lucky point on an easy ball return and Buddin had a faulty attack, 10-10. 

But NU retaliated with a 3-0 rampage fueled by another kill from Buddin, who would then join forces with Taguibolos at the net to put the roof on Dryx Saavedra's opposite hammer for a 13-10 advantage. 

Aringo's down-the-line attack sent NU to match point before Jade Disquiatado clinched his only block in the game after denying Saavedra on the right wing, 15-11. Before that, Disquiatado only had one point as he wasn't fielded in the first three sets. 

Saavedra powered FEU with 24 points laced with six digs, while Amet Bituin and Charles Absin chipped in 10 and nine markers apiece. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News