Greg Ancheta Played Through The Noise

For much of the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament, Greg Ancheta found himself under constant scrutiny.

Every decision was questioned. Every mistake felt amplified. And as the starting setter of the defending champion NU Bulldogs, expectations followed him every time he stepped onto the floor.

As NU pushed through another title run, Ancheta quietly became one of the most debated players surrounding the team. There were stretches where the Bulldogs struggled offensively, moments where the timing between setter and hitters looked off, and games where fans openly questioned whether NU’s offense looked as fluid as previous championship squads.

Online, the criticism became difficult to ignore.

Some called for lineup changes. Others compared him to past NU setters or questioned whether experience was being prioritized over performance. There were even fans who believed that if NU lost in the UAAP Season 88 Finals, the blame would fall on both Coach Dante Alinsunurin and Ancheta.

And Ancheta heard all of it.

“Siguro nung mga una hindi ko na-meet yung expectation nila. Kaya nagiging ganun yung reaction nila.”

Carrying The Pressure Of A Setter

For setters, pressure works differently.

Scorers can recover with one explosive run. Middle blockers can shift momentum with one huge rejection. But setters carry the responsibility of keeping the entire offense together. When things fall apart, they are often the first to be blamed.

Still, Ancheta never allowed the criticism to consume him.

“Pero para sa akin naman, okay, challenge siya.”

Instead of responding publicly or forcing things during matches, he focused on the quieter side of improvement — training, repetition, and mindset.

“Trabaho lang sa training and then siguro improve yung mindset pagdating sa ganun. Hanggang sa nakakapaglaro na ako ng maayos.”

Slowly, the improvement became visible throughout the season. The hesitation started disappearing. NU’s offense became steadier. And the confidence in Ancheta’s decision-making began looking more natural under pressure.

A major part of that came from simplifying his mindset every time he stepped onto the court.

“Pagdating naman sa crowd, medyo sanay naman na ako.”

Instead of overthinking outside expectations, Ancheta leaned on the message that Alinsunurin constantly emphasized inside the NU program.

“Pero ang mindset ko lang is yung laging sinasabi ni Coach Dante na play our game and give our best. Yun lang.”

The Championship Moment

Sometimes, growth for athletes does not come through dramatic speeches or instant redemption.

Sometimes, it comes from learning how to quiet the noise long enough to trust yourself again.

Fittingly, one of the defining moments of Ancheta’s season came during NU’s championship-clinching point against the FEU Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 88 Finals.

With the match on the line, it was Ancheta’s final set that created the winning point for the Bulldogs — a moment that could have easily been framed as redemption after an up-and-down season.

But for Ancheta, it was never about proving doubters wrong.

“Siguro hindi ko na rin naman na kailangan patunayan yung sarili ko eh.”

For him, the play was simply about making the correct read in the moment.

“Yung last point na ’yun, situational na ’yun kasi nga ang expected ng FEU is ibibigay ko kay Buds, which is mataas na porsyento sa amin. Eh nakita ko, libre yung blockers kay Obed [Mukaba]. Kaya kay Obed ko binigay.”

That answer probably says the most about who Greg Ancheta became throughout Season 88.

Not someone trying to force highlight plays. Not someone obsessed with silencing critics.

Just a setter learning how to trust the game unfolding in front of him.

By the Finals, the conversations surrounding Ancheta had slowly shifted from criticism toward how composed he looked under pressure and how much steadier NU’s offense had become when it mattered most.

Still Growing With NU

Despite helping NU secure another championship, Ancheta believes his growth with the Bulldogs is still far from over.

Entering his fourth playing year, he continues to learn how to handle expectations, pressure, and criticism while striving to improve every season.

Growth, after all, has always been tied to the standards inside the NU system.

“Every season may goal din ako sa sarili ko na inspired dun sa goal ni Coach Dante para sa amin which is yung mag-improve lang everyday. Para makagawa kami ng maayos sa paglalaro. Pagdating naman ng araw, makukuha din naman namin yung championship pag maayos na yung ginagawa namin.”

And maybe that ultimately defined Greg Ancheta’s UAAP Season 88 journey.

Not perfection. Not instant dominance.

Just the willingness to keep playing through doubt long enough to rediscover his rhythm, finally.

For more exclusive volleyball stories, click here