With record crowd, five-peat secured, NU's Dante Alinsunurin hopes for continuous growth of men's volleyball in PH
A record crowd of 14,517 watched National University and Far Eastern University battle for the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball title last Saturday — a rare sight for the event which just years ago was playing in front of almost empty arenas.
Now, men's volleyball has been gaining ground and five-peat champion coach Dante Alinsunurin himself turned emotional as he saw the fans for both squads cheering inside the Mall of Asia Arena.
"Medyo nangingilid luha ko sa nakita ko kanina. Sabi ko bakit ngayon lang nangyari samantalang siguro past 2018 pa nagsimula na tayo sa men's na umaangat na. Nagkaproblema lang talaga at nagka-pandemic," Alinsunurin said in a press conference on Saturday.
"Sana magtuloy-tuloy, hindi lang para sa NU community at FEU community 'yung suporta para sa amin."
Alinsunurin said seeing crowds as big as that inspires coaches and players to be better in their sport.
"Sana sa mga susunod pa ng liga ng men's, lagi silang nandiyan kasi napaka-importante sa players and coaches na makakita ng ganito. Lalo pa naming mapagbubutihan sa pag-coach at paglalaro. Parang alam mo sa sarili mo na na-appreciate na talaga 'yung men's dito sa Pilipinas," he said.
But beyond the record attendance, NU has also cemented its legacy in men's volleyball with its seven titles overall and Alinsunurin himself got teary-eyed as he recalled the struggles of building a winning program.
"Sobrang thankful lang din sa sitwasyon kasi pinaghirapan talaga mula sa simula. 'Yung umpisa, mahirap mag-recruit kasi 'di kilala 'yung team," Alinsunurin said.
"Kasi nung simula talagang 'di kami pinapansin. Sobrang thankful lang na 'yung pinagtrabahuhan namin is nagbubunga na. Sana 'yun lang, mag-continue lang. Kung sino man 'yung mga nilalagay namin sa NU, mag-continue pa."
"Hindi lang kami, hindi lang para sa amin, hindi lang namin gusto mag-champion dito. Gusto din namin 'yung mga players na lumevel up 'di lang dito sa Pinas kundi sa ibang bansa. Hindi lang ito para sa NU, para sa buong Pilipinas din."
The title also came months before the country hosts the FIVB Men's World Championship which will be held in September in the same venue.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
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