NATIONAL U-Sta. Elena finally got back at Ateneo-Fudgee Barr in big fashion yesterday, scoring a 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 victory in a riveting clash of two of the league’s fancied teams in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila.
The Nationals overpowered the Eagles in the opening frame, charged back late in the second then outdueled them in another furious third set battle to clinch the victory, two months after they dropped a crucial loss to their UAAP rival in the V-League Collegiate Challenge last Sept. 13.
“Deserved talaga nila (ng mga players) ‘yung win namin kasi trinabaho namin simula umpisa hanggang sa dulo. Nakuha ng mga bata kasi talagang pinaghandaan namin ‘tong game na ‘to,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin, whose wards thus seized the solo lead in Pool A of the four-division tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Earlier, MKA-San Beda flashed top form coming off a four-set defeat and beat veteran-laden Philippine Air Force yesterday 25-22, 28-30, 25-23, 25-19 to get back on track in Pool B.
Ateneo posed a big challenge to NU in the third but Rwenzmel Taguibolos’ back-to-back rejections on Omar Okeke allowed the Nationals to mount a quick 3-0 run that turned a 19-20 disadvantage into a two-point lead.
After an exchange of hits, Michaelo Buddin delivered the final two points for NU, including a stinging blast to wrap up the match in one-hour and 29 minutes of power game and blocking.
“Kailangan tuluy-tuloy kami eh para pagdating sa gusto talaga naming na sitwasyon, makuha namin,” added Alinsunurin.
The Nationals shot down the Blue Eagles even without veterans Nico Almendras and Owa Retamar. Almendras is attending to personal matters in his hometown Batangas while Retamar slipped during one of the team’s training sessions.