Reporting note: this article draws on tiebreakertimes.com.ph; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
NU Bulldogs sweep Alpha Insurance in straight sets
NU Bulldogs sweep Alpha Insurance 25-20, 25-20, 25-23, and the net defense did most of the talking Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the 2026 Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference.
Obed Mukaba led the charge with seven blocks as National University-Archipelago Builders racked up 17 rejections as a team. The 23-year-old Congolese middle blocker finished with eight points.
The result moved NU to 2-0 and into a four-way tie for first place with Criss Cross, FEU-DN Steel and ClearSkiiin. All four teams are still unbeaten in the conference.
Mukaba's seven blocks headline a 17-block night
This is becoming a pattern for the Bulldogs. Mukaba already put up eight blocks in NU's debut win over VNS-Laticrete, a 25-14, 25-13, 20-25, 25-12 result last Tuesday, and he was the loudest presence at the net again here.
"Of course, it's a good experience because we are a collegiate team," Mukaba said. "And facing those kinds of players, because they are also a good team, will help us improve. I think this competition is a good preparation for us for the UAAP."
He had plenty of help. Leo Ordiales paced the Bulldogs with 15 points built on 11 attacks, two aces and two blocks, while Buds Buddin added 13 points and nine excellent receptions.
Jade Disquitado chipped in 10 points and seven excellent digs. Setter Greg Ancheta ran the offense with 14 excellent sets and two points, and Jimwell Gapultos collected nine excellent receptions and eight excellent digs in a match that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.
Alpha Insurance's 21-19 lead slips away
The Protectors looked ready to force a fourth set after grabbing a 21-19 edge in the third frame. Then Buddin's cross-court hit and Disquitado's block on Reymark Betco sparked a 3-0 run that pushed NU ahead, 22-21.
Alpha Insurance hung around, but the closing stretch went badly. Betco committed two costly service errors, and Disquitado sealed the sweep with a match-clinching block on him.
"Of course, in the third set, I think we tried to adjust with our subs. The opposite, si Betco, I think, he was on fire. The coach has to adjust to him. That's why we [had] two or three blocks," Mukaba said.
Betco still led the Protectors with 13 points on 10 attacks and three blocks. Vince Himzon contributed seven markers, while Axel Van Book was limited to six as Alpha Insurance slipped to 1-1 after its five-set win over Savouge.
FEU-DN Steel rematch up next for NU
NU gets an immediate chance to protect its share of the top spot. The Bulldogs face UAAP rival FEU-DN Steel on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, a rematch of the V-League Finals — and a meeting of two teams still sitting at 2-0.
That one matters for more than standings. NU is treating this conference as UAAP preparation, and FEU-DN Steel is exactly the kind of test that shows whether the block wall holds up when the opposition has had time to scout it.
Alpha Insurance, meanwhile, faces a stiffer challenge against defending champion Criss Cross on Sunday at 5 p.m. The Protectors will need more balance than they showed Thursday, when Betco carried most of the load and the pins around him stayed quiet.
For now, though, the story is NU's defense at the net — 17 blocks in a sweep is the kind of number that makes the rest of the field take notice!
The original report on this match comes from tiebreakertimes.com.ph.
