National University and Far Eastern University will rekindle their rivalry in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball Finals, as the Bulldogs look to further solidify their dynasty while the Tamaraws seek redemption after last year’s heartbreak.
The six-peat-seeking National U aims to reassert its mastery over FEU, with the Dante Alinsunurin-led squad being the lone team to blemish the record of Eddieson Orcullo’s crew this season.
“Hindi talaga kami nagfo-focus sa six-peat. Nagfo-focus lang kami sa ginagawa namin every day para mag-improve pa kami,” said Alinsunurin, whose team hurdled through adversity before eventually securing the second seed and the twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.
The Bulldogs even needed to face University of Santo Tomas for three straight matches just to enter the Finals, with NU dropping its last elimination round game to the Golden Spikers before winning their next two outings including the Final Four.
For Alinsunurin, the challenges they faced were necessary in preparation for another Finals showdown against FEU.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, kukunin natin, pero hangga't maaari, trabahuhin muna natin yung naging problema namin,” he said of his squad, which finished the eliminations with 10 wins in 14 matches.
However, the Tamaraws are just as hungry as they look to finally break through, with FEU still reeling from its Finals loss last year which came despite already taking Game 1 and holding a virtual twice-to-beat edge.
“Magpi-prepare kami nang maigi,” said Orcullo, whose squad’s lone loss in the eliminations came against NU in Round 2. “Bibigyan namin ng magandang preparation, magandang game, magandang lahat para maging maganda yung Finals ng Season 88.”
Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals is on Wednesday, May 6, 12:00 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
