COLLEGIATE star Michaelo Buddin continues to make noise in the international scene with the Alas Pilipinas national men’s volleyball team after he bagged another individual award in the recently concluded 4th SEA V.League second Leg over the weekend in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Buddin, 23, an incoming junior for National University, was named the First Best Outside Hitter in the three-day competition for his solid showing with the Nationals.
A first timer in the national team, it was Buddin’s back-to-back Best Outside Hitter in the tilt. He received the same accolade in the first leg earlier this month.
The Philippines won the bronze medal thanks to Buddin along with Louie Ramirez, Jade Disquitado, skipper Kim Malabunga, EJ Casana, Peng Taguibolos and Vince Lorenzo.
The Bryan Bagunas-less Alas men outlasted Vietnam 27-25, 14-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12, in the battle for third and wrapped up its campaign with a 1-2 slate.
This was also the second consecutive bronze medal for Alas coach Angiolino Frigoni, who took over at the helm of Alas this month.
Thailand beat Indonesia 25-20, 26-24, 22-25, 28-26 to rule the tourney.
With its victory, Thailand swept this year’s first and second legs of the four-nation meet with a total of six victories.
Napadet Bhinijdee of Thailand bagged the MVP and Best Opposite Spiker awards while teammates Kissada Nilsawai and Tanapat Charoensuk received the Second-Best Middle Blockers and Best Libero plum, respectively.
Indonesians Dio Zulfikri and Farhan Halim were named Best Setter and Second Best Outside Hitter as Vietnamese Duy Tuyen Tran was given with the Second Best Outside Hitter plum.
