Al-Bukharie Sali is a name that University of Santo Tomas (UST) fans are quickly getting familiar with.
The 6-foot-5 rookie wing spiker has become a standout player for the Golden Spikers in the 2024 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge, not just for his towering presence but for his impressive performances on the court.
At just 18 years old, Sali has already shown glimpses of his immense potential in his first four games. Whether in limited minutes or extended playing time, he has consistently made an impact, scoring 16 points in his debut against De La Salle, eight against National University (NU), nine against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, and 14 against Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
What makes Sali's story even more remarkable is that he only started playing volleyball two years ago.
“Magtu-two years pa lang po akong naglalaro ng volleyball,” shared Sali after UST’s four-set victory against Letran.
Sali credits his father for pushing him to pursue volleyball, a decision that has already begun to pay dividends.
“Si Papa ko kasi ang nagpush sa akin eh na mag training, mag jogging every morning ganon. Ginigising niya po talaga ako ng madaling araw para magjogging. Dati po kasi ano ako eh tambay tambay lang ganon,” he recounted.
Sali's journey from a novice to a promising volleyball star started in Tawi-Tawi, where he first caught the eye of VNS coach Ralph Ocampo.
Ocampo discovered Sali after seeing a video of him playing as a middle blocker during a provincial event. Although Sali was still raw and relatively untrained, Ocampo saw the potential in the young athlete and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to develop a 6-foot-5 talent.
Ocampo’s belief in Sali led to his recruitment to play for VNS and later for Mapua High School in the NCAA, where he completed his senior year.
A year of rigorous training, repetition, and dedication turned Sali into one of the most sought-after recruits in high school volleyball, drawing interest from top UAAP and NCAA schools.
Ultimately, it was UST that secured Sali’s commitment, and the young spiker couldn’t be happier with his choice.
“Masaya po ako sobra syempre nasa UST na po ako eh malaking school ito. Nakita ko po kasi na sa UST po ako mag grow as a player and as a student-athlete,” Sali expressed.
