National University is out to defend its reign against seven other teams raring to snatch the throne when the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge comes off the wraps on 16 August at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Fresh from completing a three-peat in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the Bulldogs are ready to go to battle and once again prove that they are the alpha dogs in collegiate volleyball.
Bannered by Nico Almendras, Buds Buddin, Ken Malinis, Obed Mukaba and ace setter Owa Retamar, NU repulsed a pesky University of Santo Tomas side in three games in the finals last year.
But the Bulldogs are sure to have their hands full with the Golden Spikers back for redemption led by high-flying UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Josh Ybanez and GBoy De Vega.
NU swept UST in the UAAP championship last May.
Also posing a threat to the Bulldogs’ dynasty are Far Eastern University, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University as well as NCAA squads University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Emilio Aguinaldo College and San Beda University.
Meanwhile, back-to-back National Collegiate Athletic Association champion College of Saint Benilde leads the eight-team women’s division.
Joining the Lady Blazers, who finished third last year, are Lyceum of the Philippines University, Mapua University, Perpetual, and San Sebastian College-Recoletos; UAAP squads FEU and University of the East and reigning National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities champion Enderun Colleges.
Inaugural champion Ateneo and runner-up Adamson University skipped this year’s competition.
Games will be played every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The top four teams from each division after the single round elims will advance to the best-of-three semifinals.
The finals will also be a best-of-three series while the battle for the bronze is a one-game affair.
