Action between UST and NU in the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball Final 4, May 3, 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum. UAAP Media
MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas will be armed with momentum when it takes on defending champion National University in a do-or-die showdown for the last spot in the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball Finals.
The Bulldogs, ranked second after the elimination round, have been forced to make use of their twice-to-beat advantage after losing to the Golden Spikers in a four-set affair last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
READ: UST men stun National U, force decider for Finals spot
They will face off once more on Wednesday at the Big Dome, with National U needing a win to keep its bid for a fifth straight men's volleyball crown alive.
First serve is scheduled at 2:00 p.m.
The winner will advance to the best-of-3 championship series against top-seeded Far Eastern University, which ousted De La Salle University in its own Final 4 assignment.
"Sobrang nagkumpyansa kami sa laro. Sobrang kumpyansa talaga. Para sa akin, 'yon lang yung naging problem talaga kasi nandoon naman kami nung first and second sets. Talagang nalagay lang namin yung sarili namin sa alanganin na sitwasyon kung saan nagrelax kami. Pero sabi ko nga, sa pagkatalo, may chance pa para makabawi," Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin.
"Dapat ipakita nila yung itsura at yung manner na gusto nila manalo para sa NU," he added.
The Bulldogs hope to have a healthy Buds Buddin, who is dealing with a right ankle sprain, in the decider to stand a chance.
Coach Odjie Mamon's main concern is how the Golden Spikers will muster enough energy to hurdle another must-win match and reach the championship for a third straight season.
"Kung sino kasi ang makapagrecover and prepare in such short amount of time, yun ang papasok sa Finals. I also want to take advantage of the momentum, so definitely we will prepare for Wednesday," Mamon.
UST pulled off an element of surprise by starting Gboy de Vega, who played sparingly in the eliminations, to help out reigning two-time MVP Josh Ybañez and Jay Rack de la Noche on offense.
As NU is now setting its sights on him, De Vega wants to elevate his level of play after contributing 14 points in Game 1.
"Sa akin naman, naging mindset ko po ay there’s this person na nagsabi samin na don’t stay in your past. Kumbaga, kung ano yung mga nangyari before, tapos na po yun eh kaya win yung sinisigaw namin na what’s important is now. Nageemphasize kami kung gaano kaimportante yung kasalukuyan kasi yun lang yung kaya namin controlin at yun yung kaya namin paglabanan," said De Vega.
"Yung past, tapos na talaga eh. So yun, yung mindset ko, yun nga, what’s important is now kaya yung point na inaano namin, pinaghihirapan talaga namin, each and every point, and each every set, and hanggang sa nakuha namin yung isang game," he added.