FEU vs NU | Full Game Highlights | UAAP Season 88 Men's Volleyball Finals Game 1 | May 6, 2026

Well, we're ready to kick off finals week here in the UAP. Defending champions, NU Bulldogs, who, of course, had to work from the back foot. Even if they're down by one game, down by two sets, they know how to come back. And this is the starting unit that has been consistent all season long for NU. We've seen iterations of the starting unit, but Bula Dungala will get the starting run at their middle block. An exclusive broadcast of your UAAP. What are your early expectations in this rematch, Neil? These 4-0, 3-0 runs sometimes can be so crippling already because they're so well matched against each other. One-on-one. Block was enough to stop that Espartero hit. It's gotta feel good for Anceta. NU down as much as three, now back, tied, it is in! And there you take the lead! Anceta goes to the other side and Budin delivers again! He will not be denied. Kakao will leave it for a free ball for National U. From behind! A quick differential pipe from the Bulldogs. That's going to be good for the confidence of Jay Desquetado. That's also one way to help him, give him opportunities to score. The twin receives. One-on-one! What a step by Kakao. And then 19-17 NU. And FDU gets a chance to strike here. Lirik on the run. Jade will get it back. Down 17-19. They win 25-21 in the first set. Juan Gonzalez, Neil Flores. We are, of course, on OneSports. The UAP Varsity Channel. And first dibs on a point will be National University, courtesy of their MVN 15. In that second match-up, sorry, first match-up, where they lost. Garcia Espartero, again, is denied here. And remember the semifinals of the year before. The one against USD. Weren't they the number one seed? Yes, they were. Now that you think about it. They want to break through. And so does Budin, and so does Ordiales. But there is no breaking it. Defense is becoming the name of the game, especially in the final series. No matter how cliché it may sound, defense will win championships. That's what we're saying. The pull-toss is there. Ordiales will try to send it over safely. Kakao will reverse. It's back with FU. Kakao to Espartero with a left hand. Time for NU to refocus on their ox. One more time for Ancheta. Budin! Anil Pero! Ginawa ng paraan! Ganun na ganun yung gusto ni Budin. He enjoys slow, fast sets from all sides of the court. Yeah, in American volleyball, they call that a big play as opposed to a traditional fight. I felt like there was really more distribution with the team in the offseason training. Pero alam namin, alam natin kakayaan niya. Alam na alam din natin kakayaan ni Buds saan man sa court. Nine points for the four-time champion, delivering from behind. The twin receives. That's good. Little bit of a giveaway here. Chance for FU. It is off a rebound. Bolos! On the swing! Another great setup for Taguibolos. Who really threw the defense there. And wide open for Mikaelo Budin! Once you jump against Taguibolos, napalo na ni Buds Budin yung bola because the set placement is... Buds takes this one. Loose ball. Another point for Leo Ortiales. Smiling more. He just doesn't look the same yet. He will be in the double-digit mark also. Reverse to Leo. And that is a bad sign for FU that Ortiales is getting his rhythm here. Nakita mo na leading to that, medyo lumalakas na sila. But again, you go back, say, 15-20 years back. And FU, both in men's and women's, were always at the bottom at 0-14-1. Oh, good pickup by Kakau. Budin was there to dig. Ortiales! Already has six points under his name. Only scored one point, I believe. 8-6. Desquitado! From behind. Back attack for his 11th point. We're here for the long haul. For this opening match of the finals day in UAAP. Kaba! That's out? No, it's in! 4. That's in. Sinugal na nila yung isang challenge card nila. So that's officially a point for FU. It's 14, serving 15. Overpass from the Tamaraus. Budin will try to go for the check. Tama ba si Buds na tumama sa player? Wala. To the tape of the net. Yung pina combination play na ng NU would be their back row attack. Now they would score another point off the shank pass. Yup. Looks like, as you said, legal airspace for Leo Ortiales. Sin on tap. Desquitado again receives. That's underneath the ball, I believe. Touch that will be unsuccessful. Serve and sweep is the rule. One hand set. Off a rebound. Hernandez. Ancheta. Denied! Pintoza with the denial. That was a risk from Ancheta because in the endgame... Ancheta. A chance to counter. Kakao opens. Again, NU winning the second matchup, which was match number 34. 15 to 8 in the fifth set. Free ball coming the way of FU. Pantero again. Launching one for his tenth point. Third player in double digits for FU. Scoring palang, kitang-kitang. To all. Again, out of system. Seen by the defense. Blanketed at the net. Desquitado serving. Kakao to Saavedra. Good save there. Good coverage by Pareño. And or the unreturnable swing! That's a big one for National University. Establishing an early two-point lead against FU. They're waiting for this rotation because this is the rotation that they can actually score multiple consecutive points. Good dig by Bituin. They go to Drix. Gets off to the rebound. Ancheta will send it to Budin. Bituin was there to sweep. Good up by Ancheta. Ortiales. What?! Good ball control. Chance ball for NU. Almost went out. That's a point for National U as Ortiales racking it up. 16 serving 20. Budin doing very well. Passing. Desquitado. The ability to get up in the air and take a picture of that floor, Neil. Ball is receiving. The scratch at the ball by Mendoza to give it his ninth point. Simple serve by Mukaba. He made it. A safe serve. The brunt of that spike. Set one and set three. For National University. Four set points for NU. Another rejection for National U. Migo Espartero's passport was denied. 25-20 for National University. And to no one's surprise, they won against Ateneo, obviously. NU, in the meantime, has won against FEU. Has won against Adamson. But, 15th, fifth setter of the year. And NU gets the first point. Make that the first two points. Says, my calf is fine. What cramps? I don't feel it. It's heaviest. Especially in the context of a game number one of the finals. What a start by the defending champions. Short serve to Mukaba. And this time, FEU finally scores. Courtesy of a cross-court kill. He wanted to target short, probably. His fourth partner in this match. Espartero with coverage. Let me ask you that question. Who should it be, Neil, in your opinion? For me, it should be Mendoza or Mikko Espartero. They really have to step up. Because this is also prepared to go for a hit in the back row. Ready to defend. That's all. Better ball control there. Ortiales! That is a big one. With the pressure and the momentum. 12 serving 8. Espartero will get this one. What a goal! Good challenge still for FEU. Two points away our National University from taking game number one. Off the rebound. Disquitado! For the defending champions in the hands of their setter. Good up. Budin! Duot will open up to Espartero. Good dive by Ancheta. This ball is still alive for FEU. Xavetra! And you will go for it. Pagano!