Latest news with #DanteAlinsunurin
GMA Network
19-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
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
GMA Network
18-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
NU coach Dante Alinsunurin dedicates 5-peat to late brother
National University men's volleyball team longtime mentor Dante Alinsunurin dedicated his most challenging UAAP season campaign yet to his late brother, who passed away last week. Alinsunurin steered the Bulldogs to the league's first five-peat in the Final Four era after taking down Far Eastern University in Game 3 of their championship showdown in the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball finals on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. In their past four championship victories, the Bulldogs have never needed more than two games to close out the series, until the top-seeded Tamaraws became a worthy challenger for the crown. 'Unang-una, inaalay ko tong panalo na 'to sa kapatid ko, namatay nu'ng isang linggo,' Alinsunurin said. 'Pangalawa, ang ganda talaga ng series and the other credit goes to FEU, talagang na-challenge nila kami kung hanggang saan [ang kaya namin]. To my players, mula day one, for pushing 'yung sarili nila na makuha namin tong five-peat na to,' he continued. After fighting through the loss of his brother Mike right around the playoffs, Alinsunurin honored him with a special achievement. 'Sobrang thankful talaga ako, hindi lang 'to para sa sarili ko. Para sa kapatid ko 'tong game na 'to. Alam ko na mas matutuwa siya para sa akin pag nakita niyang champion kami,' Alinsunurin said. 'Special itong title kasi kahit may mga struggle kami hindi lang sa laro, kundi sa labas din ng court. Even mga players namin [suffering from] injuries talaga, and ako family matters. Sobrang thankful ako sa panalong to. As of now, ito 'yung pinaka magandang achievement sa career and championship pagdating rito sa UAAP,' he added. In front of a record-high crowd turnout of 14,517, the men's team secured a double gold for the school's volleyball program following an early title celebration for its women's counterpart on Wednesday. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
