NU Bulldogs fulfill ‘five-peat' dream, overcome FEU

NU Bulldogs are crowned UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball champions after overcoming the FEU Tamaraws in Game 3 of the finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Even when pushed to its limit by a worthy rival threatening to topple its dynasty, National University still proved to be the king of UAAP men’s volleyball for the fifth straight year.

In front of another all-time men’s volleyball gate attendance of 14, 517 fans, the Bulldogs completed a finals series comeback to become the first team in the Final Four era to achieve a “five-peat.”

READ: UAAP: Buds Buddin continues role of emotional leader for NU

Aringo clinches the five-peat for NU!#UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/oNUNWo2vwo

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 17, 2025

After a pair of five-set thrillers, NU outclassed No. 1 seed Far Eastern University in a winner-take-all Game 3, 25-16, 28-26, 25-23, in UAAP Season 87 on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

NU became just the second team overall in men’s volleyball to rule five straight seasons since way back when FEU reigned from 1946 to 1958.

Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin, once agaiin, proved to be the standard in men’s volleyball, delivering the school’s seventh championship in their 10th straight finals appearance.

Despite dominating the first set, NU blew a 20-12 spread, as Dryx Saavedra willed FEU back with four straight points to tie the second set at 23-all before an attack error by Leo Ordiales that sent the latter at set point.

An error by the Bulldogs and Luis Miguel’s clutch hit brought the Tams at set point advantage twice, 26-25.

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

But substitute Jade Disquitado, the match-winner in Game 2, came to the rescue for NU, scoring three straight points as the Bulldogs took a two-set lead.

NU trailed again in the third, 19-21, before tallying four straight points after back-to-back hits from Buds Buddin and Peng Taguibolos followed by two crucial errors from Luis Miguel and Charles Absin for a 23-21 lead.

Miguel stopped the bleeding but committed a service error that sent the Bulldogs at championship point, 24-22, before Amet Bituin saved a point for the Tamaraws.

Leo Aringo delivered the championship-clinching tip.

In Game 1, NU blew a 2-1 match advantage as FEU pulled off a come-from-behind 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13 win, proving that a bunch of first-timers can level the experience of the four-consecutive champion last week at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs committed the same mistake in Game 2, but they refused to end their campaign with another meltdown as they hung tight to prevail, 25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-11, in front of 9,977 fans and force a rubber match.

The 26th championship remained elusive for FEU as it couldn’t win its first title in 13 years when it shattered the University of Santo Tomas’ four-consecutive reign from Seasons 70 to 73 in the Season 74 finals.

The Tamaraws settled for another runner-up finish in their first trip to the championship round since 2019 against the same tormentors.