UP’s Niña Ytang, and NU’s Buds Buddin helped their respective teams end undefeated streaks in UAAP Season 87.
There will be no sweeps in either the women’s or men’s volleyball tournaments in UAAP Season 87 after the UP Fighting Maroons and the NU Bulldogs each slayed erstwhile undefeated foes in their respective competitions this week.
UP’s Niña Ytang and NU’s Buds Buddin, who played pivotal roles in those specific wins, nabbed the Collegiate Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the women’s and men’s division, respectively, for the period covering March 22 to March 30.
Ytang, for her part, spearheaded UP’s fight back into the Final Four conversation with a 2-1 slate in their past three games.
The middle blocker’s highlight was a career-high 30-point outing against the undefeated NU Lady Bulldogs when they collided for their second round encounter last Wednesday.
Despite the odds stacked against them, Ytang willed them in a thrilling five setter, 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12, which blemished NU’s record for the season.
Not only that, Ytang’s explosion was one for the history books as she became the highest scorer in a single game for the UP Fighting Maroons since Tots Carlos in UAAP Season 80. Meanwhile, it was the highest scoring output for a middle blocker since NU alumna Jaja Santiago’s 30-point output in 2017.
After the game, Ytang expressed shock in UP’s hard fought win.
“Actually po, wala po talaga kami in-expect -- I mean, hindi namin in-expect na mananalo kami. Parang, 'yun, laban lang talaga nang laban," Ytang said, who bested NU's Belen and Alyssa Solomon, FEU's Jaz Ellarina, De La Salle University's Angel Canino, and Ateneo de Manila University's Lyann de Guzman and Taks Fujimoto for the weekly citation.
Ytang also helped her team to a convincing victory over UE on Sunday which marked UP’s first straight sets since UAAP Season 84.
Meanwhile, Buddin helped revitalize NU’s five-peat bid in men’s volleyball as he spearheaded an inspired victory over the previously undefeated FEU Tamaraws over the weekend.
Buddin steadied the ship for an up-and-down NU with 16 points in the come-from-behind victory over FEU, 17-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-14, 15-9.
For his points and energy that he brought on the court, Buddin was able to push his team to victory.
“Para sa akin kasi, for the past few games, ramdam namin 'yung bigat kapag masyado kaming tahimik. Kami ni Leo [Ordiales], kahapon pa lang nag-decide na kami na once na nasa loob kaming dalawa, kami 'yung magsisimula ng energy," Buddin said.
Apart from his showing against FEU, Buddin also had 17 points and 11 receptions to go along with nine digs in a win over UP, while he also had 12 points and 12 receptions in a loss to La Salle.
Buddin beat out La Salle’s Noel Kampton in the voting tally from a pool that also featured Ariel Cacao of FEU, Josh Ybañez of UST, and Amil Pacinio and Enzo Gutierrez of Ateneo.
Both Ytang’s Fighting Maroons and Buddin’s Bulldogs return to action on Sunday against their respective opponents.