SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball FINALS Game 3 – NU vs FEU

MANILA, Philippines — National University was on the verge of bidding its five-peat dream careful after another spirited comeback by Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Finals Game 2.

But, in front of a roaring crowd of 9,977, Buds Buddin helped his teammates zero in on their goal to stave off the Tamaraws, 25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-11, and force a winner-take-all Game 3 set for Saturday. 

“Every end of the set, we huddle up. I always ask my teammates, ‘What are you fighting for?’” said Buddin. “It’s for our dream, for our coaches’ dream, and for our families.”

READ: UAAP: NU spoils FEU’s title plans as finals goes the distance

Despite nursing a right ankle injury he sustained at the end of the eliminations, Buddin anchored the team’s 5-1 run to end the fifth set to keep their historic drive , praising the composure and resilience of the Bulldogs.

“In the fifth set, we told ourselves, ‘It’s not over yet.’ We’ve been in this situation before, so we focused on taking it one point at a time,” he said in Filipino. “All our efforts paid off—not just the players on the court, but even those on the bench and the crowd. Their energy really pushed us.”

Buds Buddin and the NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Finals Game 2 . –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Buddin also credited the Bulldogs’ collective mindset heading into the match.

“Before we even stepped into MOA, we reminded ourselves that it’s all about putting in the work. We all needed to give our best and stay united on the court,” he said.

Buddin admitted he has yet to reach full recovery but he vowed to continue to play his heart out when NU and FEU clash for all the marbles in Game 3.

Though not yet fully recovered, the Alas Pilipinas standout vowed to keep pushing when NU and FEU clash for the crown in Game 3.

“I wasn’t fully healed, but I knew I had to come back and contribute,” Buddin said. “As one of the seniors, I know how much we’ve poured into this four-peat journey. I didn’t want all that effort to go to waste.”

“I pushed through rehab with that in mind. I promised myself that once I got back, I’d do everything to help the team.”