UAAP: Leo Ordiales proves worth by leading NU back to finals

Leo Ordiales gestures during NU’s Final Four victory over UST in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

LIVE: UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Final Four – NU vs UST

MANILA, Philippines — With star Buds Buddin playing through an ankle injury, Leo Ordiales and Jade Disquitado stepped up when it mattered most to save National University’s five-peat dream in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament.

NU coach Dante Alinsunurin was relieved to see Ordiales rise to the occasion, scoring 20 points in their 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 win over University of Santo Tomas in their Final Four do-or-die on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

READ: UAAP: Injury-hit Buddin still finds ways to push NU to victory

Leo Ordiales and Jade Disquitado after stepping up to save NU’s campaign. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/W5enpotUju

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 7, 2025

“Finally, this is exactly what we’ve been looking for from him,” Alinsunurin said in Filipino. “We’ve always known what he’s capable of. The way we train, the way we brought him along even during our trips abroad, it’s because we believed he had so much to offer. And now he’s proving to be a huge help to the team.”

Ordiales fought through sleepless nights after squandering their twice-to-beat last Sunday following a four-set loss to the Golden Spikers that put their five-peat drive in peril.

“I had a hard time sleeping last night because I had so much on my mind. I just kept reminding myself to stay positive so I wouldn’t carry that stress into the game. I was excited but tried to stay calm—and thankfully, I was able to play my game the way I know I can,” said Ordiales in Filipino.

“My mindset was really shaped by that loss we had before. It really hit us hard.”

Led by the young opposite spiker, the Bulldogs put the painful loss behind and focused on what mattered.

READ: UAAP: NU bulldogs reach 10th straight finals, eliminate UST

“After the loss, we just hit reset and got back to work. I kept thinking are we just going to be a team with a sad story? Or are we going to write a new one?” he said.

Disquitado backstopped Ordiales with 14 points and 11 excellent receptions, applying the right mindset in a must-win game.

“After the loss, our coaches told us there’s no time for drama. They really set our mindset to avoid negativity so it wouldn’t affect us on the court. We stayed positive all day and throughout the game,” said Disquitado. 

“My mindset was just to go all out because if we lost this game, our dream and our goal would be gone. So, I just focused on giving my best on the court.”

Facing the top seed, Far Eastern University, in a best-of-three finals series starting on Sunday, Ordiales tempers expectations but promises to deliver for NU.

“I’m trying not to put too many expectations on myself so I don’t feel pressured. I just want to play naturally—stick to what works for me, and not overthink things so I can keep performing well,” Ordiales said.

As for the story? Ordiales and the Bulldogs are still writing the narrative of what they hope to be a fairytale ending.