University of the Philippines and National University did what other teams have failed to accomplish in the elimination round of UAAP Season 87 women’s and men’s volleyball tournaments.
Thanks in large part to Niña Ytang and Buds Buddin, the Fighting Maroons and the Bulldogs made NU and Far Eastern University bleed, blemishing the league-leaders’ erstwhile pristine records while sustaining their own teams’ drives for a Final Four berth in Round 2.
Ytang and Buddin made it clear this week — no sweep in Season 87, as they took charge in making the “one” possible in NU’s 9-1 and FEU’s 9-1 win-loss slates.
Their giant-slaying performances for the State U and National U earned them the nods as the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Players of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission for the period of March 22-30.
Ytang paved the way for UP’s five-set 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12 comeback against defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs last Wednesday, pulling off an outing of a lifetime with a career-best 30 points on 27 attacks and three blocks.
Even Ytang herself did not expect to win against the Bella Belen-captained squad.
“Actually po, wala po talaga kami in-expect — I mean, hindi namin in-expect na mananalo kami. Parang, ‘yun, laban lang talaga nang laban,” Ytang said, who bested NU’s Belen and Alyssa Solomon, FEU’s Jaz Ellarina, De La Salle University’s Angel Canino, and Ateneo de Manila University’s Lyann de Guzman and Taks Fujimoto for the weekly citation supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and World Balance.
Her showing was one for the UAAP history books as she became the first middle blocker to score 30 points since Lady Bulldogs great Jaja Santiago’s 30-point output in a losing effort to the University of Santo Tomas in 2017.
This was also the best eruption of any Fighting Maroon after UP pride Tots Carlos’ 32-point staging, also against UST during Season 80.
On top of this, Ytang helped UP end its drought against NU which spanned since the second round of UAAP Season 80 in 2018.
But for the esteemed Maroon, it was all discipline inside the court — which was always reminded to her and the rest of the squad by coach Benson Bocboc.
“Siyempre hindi po mawawala ‘yung disiplina sa loob ng court. Laging sinasabi ng coach namin na disiplina lang, hindi po ito kani-kaniya sa loob ng court,” Ytang stressed.
Riding the high of overcoming the champions of women’s volleyball in two of the last three seasons, Ytang and company continued their brilliant act with a straight-set 25-21, 25-18, 25-17 triumph over University of the East on Sunday.
Ytang contributed seven points including two kill blocks in that ballgame. UP now seeks its sixth win in 11 games against FEU on Sunday, April 6.
For his part, Buddin made his presence felt to rewrite the narrative in men’s volleyball, proving that they are still the dominant, championship-winning Bulldogs team with a 17-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-14, 15-9 victory over the Tamaraws, who went unbeaten in their previous nine matches.
Buddin came up with 16 points built on 11 attacks, three service aces, two blocks to go with seven digs and seven receptions, including the “swag” which served as a boost of their energy on the taraflex.
“Para sa akin kasi, for the past few games, ramdam namin ‘yung bigat kapag masyado kaming tahimik. Kami ni Leo [Ordiales], kahapon pa lang nag-decide na kami na once na nasa loob kaming dalawa, kami ‘yung magsisimula ng energy,” Buddin said.
The 6-foot Bulldog also had a solid production in their win against UP, tallying 17 points to go with 11 receptions and nine digs, while putting up the numbers of 12 markers and 12 receptions in their loss versus La Salle.
He narrowly edged out Noel Kampton of La Salle in the voting tally from a pool that also featured Ariel Cacao of FEU, Josh Ybañez of UST, and Amil Pacinio and Enzo Gutierrez of Ateneo.
Buddin and the rest of the NU crew will try to clinch their ninth victory versus Adamson University six days from now.
