National University foiled University of Santo Tomas’ reverse-sweep bid, 25-19, 26-24, 16-25, 14-25, 19-17, to snap a two-game skid in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Tuesday evening at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.
After suffering back-to-back losses against the De La Salle Green Archers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the defending UAAP champions dug deep, overcoming four match points from the Golden Spikers in the decider to secure a much-needed bounce-back win.
The victory also handed UST its first defeat in the eight-team tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Missing stalwarts Buds Buddin and Jade Disquitado due to national team duties with Alas Pilipinas Men, NU turned to its rookies for firepower. Luke Macatangay and Yuan Mendoza delivered breakout performances, powering the Bulldogs to a tie with Ateneo—who earlier fell in four sets to FEU—for third place with identical 2-2 win-loss records.
“Sobrang thankful ako kasi yung mga bata talaga, every time na may mga situation, nag-rrespond talaga sila. Although hindi pa ganoon kalinis yung ginagawa nila, sa ganitong panalo, mas makakatulong sa kanila ito and sana i-continue nila yung pagkakaroon ng ganitong mindset every game,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
The deciding fifth set was a slugfest, with both sides refusing to give an inch. UST reached match point at 14-13, but a costly service error from Sherwin Umandal pushed the frame into extended play.
A series of exchanges between Gboy de Vega and Macatangay, coupled with crucial service miscues, deadlocked the set at 16-all. JJ Macam and Jan Abanilla then traded kills to force another tie at 17-all.
In an anticlimactic finish to the thrilling two-hour, three-minute contest, UST faltered at the worst possible time. De Vega committed an illegal backrow attack, followed by Macam sending his crosscourt attempt wide, gifting NU the hard-earned five-set triumph.
The difference came down to errors: NU limited its miscues to 32, while UST tallied 42 across the match.
“First set pa lang tsaka second set, ang naging labanan na talaga namin is yung unforced errors. Kung sino talaga yung mas maraming unforced errors, ‘yon talaga yung matatalo. Kaya nung fifth set, dapat all out lang. Kung ano ‘man yung nagiging problema natin sa unforced errors, dapat i-maximize natin,” Alinsunurin added.
Mendoza starred with 18 points on 16 attacks, one ace, and one block, while also contributing 13 excellent digs. Macatangay backed him up with 16 points, 15 coming off attacks.
Abanilla, battling through pain, chipped in nine points and nine digs, while Choi Diao added eight points on five attacks plus three digs.
The Bulldogs’ confidence-boosting victory sets the stage for a crucial rematch of the UAAP Season 87 Finals against the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday, August 24, at the Paco Arena.
