Championship still the goal for UAAP Player of the Week Joshua Retamar's NU as they complete elims sweep

As men's volleyball made its way back in UAAP Season 85, National University still had the same goal in mind: the championship.

This season, the Bulldogs are gunning for their third straight championship after getting a back-to-back in Seasons 80 and 81 before the lockdowns halted the tournament for Seasons 82-84.

"Masasabi ko na nandito kami sa Finals kami ulit, and siyempre gusto namin mag-champion sa men's volleyball," NU standout Joshua Retamar said this after the Bulldogs completed the elimination sweep on Saturday as they took down Ateneo de Manila, 25-11, 28-26, 16-25, 25-23, to book an outright finals berth.

("I can say that we are back in the Finals and of course, we want to win the championship in men's volleyball.")

In the said win, Retamar put up 22 excellent sets on top of his four point-performance. Prior to this, Retamar had 19 excellent sets, six points, and eight digs in the 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-21 of NU against University of Santo Tomas last April 26.

With his outstanding performance, Retamar was named as the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week. He is the second men's volleyball player to get the recognition after UST's Josh Ybañez.

But for Retamar, what they are doing today is also setting things up for those who will remain in the Bulldogs' house next season.

"Ito ang ginagawa namin. Pinapakita namin ang talent namin. Para din sa next batch namin na ito ang dadalhin nila," Retamar added.

"Kung paano kami mag-lead ng team, so ayun ang gusto naming maipakita sa players na gustong mag-lead sa team."

("This is what we're doing. We are showing our talent. This also for the next batch, for them to carry it on.")

Retamar bested fellow Nationalian Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, UST's Eya Laure, De La Salle University's Angel Canino, and Adamson University's Kate Santiago for the citation presented by San Miguel Corporation and the Philippine Sports Commission, and minor sponsors MNL Kingpin, Tinapayan Festival, and Jockey.

Retamar and the rest of the Bulldogs crew will now wait for the winner of the stepladder semifinals set to be disputed by La Salle, FEU, and UST.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News