Fighting through injuries, struggles all worth it as NU completes 5-peat, says Buddin

National University star Buds Buddin in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Finals. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — Buds Buddin can finally enjoy the fruits of his sacrifices for National University.

Fighting through an injury, the 23-year-old outside hitter averaged 16.7 points, 8.3 receptions, and 2.7 digs in their UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Finals victory over Far Eastern University to complete the first-ever 5-peat in the Final 4 era.

Buddin had his Finals-high 20 points on top of 11 receptions and two digs on Wednesday to keep NU alive last Wednesday in Game 2, and he followed these up with nine markers, 11 receptions, and a dig on Saturday in the title-clinching win.

But despite his solid outings which kept the men’s championship in Jhocson Street, Buddin admitted that their win had yet to sink in for him.

READ: National U sweeps FEU to extend men’s volleyball dominance

“Hindi ko ma-express yung nararamdaman ko ngayon kasi nga hindi pa nagsi-sink in na nanalo kami,” he said after the game.

After tallying their fourth-straight title in Season 86, the Bulldogs saw the departure of the likes of former team stars Owa Retamar and Nico Almendras in the off-season.

NU also witnessed how the Tamaraws charged into winning nine straight games to start Season 87, setting themselves as a threat to the title hopes for the Bulldogs.

For Buddin, these were all hurdles that had a huge factor in how they looked at the entirety of their recently concluded campaign.

“Ang dami naming struggles mula Day 1. Yung iba nasa national team, ako at si [Leo] Aringo nasa beach volley,” he acknowledged. “So ang hirap i-build yung team nung pa-start yung UAAP.”

“Inunti-unti talaga lang namin. Tyinaga namin kahit ang daming injury, ang daming struggles,” he added.

Buddin himself has been dealing with his own setback -- a right ankle sprain. He even shared how the severity of his injury actually prohibits him from playing in their previous games including the Finals series.

It has only been his team, as well as medicine, that has been fueling him to compete through pain.

“Yung team ko yung naging motivation ko,” he emphasized. “Yung pangarap ng coaches namin is yung five-peat, wala pang nakakagawa nun, so yun yung pinanghahawakan namin.”

And now that National U’s dream is complete, Buddin’s next step is to complete his recovery especially since he is also expected to suit up for Alas Pilipinas anew in their set of assignments for the rest of 2025.