After being eliminated by the same team during the Final Four of the UAAP last season, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws made sure that to not let their efforts go for naught this time around, nailing a five-set stunner against the National University Bulldogs, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 14-25, 15-13, Wednesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“Malaki ang panalo na ito kasi yung kumpyansa (from this game) sana mabitbit nila sa next games namin. Pero huwag naman yung over para magpursige sila,” said FEU head coach Rey Diaz.
Third year spiker JP Bugaoan powered FEU with 22 points on 18 attacks, three blocks, and an ace while team captain Richard Solis added 15 markers.
But it was the all-around effort the Tamaraws gave against the much taller Bulldogs that made Diaz proud.
“Sobrang laki ng line-up ng NU na kapag isa lang nagtrabaho, hindi kakayanin,” said the youthful mentor. “So far, so good dahil madaming nag-step up kahit sinong bunutin ko sa bench. Talagang nakakatuwa.”
And this was evident during the deciding set as FEU was able to avoid the same predicament that doomed their campaign during Game 2 of the UAAP Season 79 Final Four.
“Niloko ko nga sila kasi lumabas yung same scenario last year na natalo kami ng fourth set sa kanila. Maganda naman at naka-recover sila sa ano mang emotion na naramdaman nila,” recalled Diaz.
With the fifth set knotted at 9-all, Bugaoan was able to find the hole with a drop and was followed by an attack error by Fauzi Ismail to give FEU a two-point edge. Francis Saura though was able to answer right back with an off-the-block kill while a Peter Quiel attack went long to tie the set up once again.
Solis though was able to take advantage off a free ball for an off-the-block attack while a huge block by RJ Paler against Ismail again gave FEU a two-point lead. The two teams then exchanged points with Paler sealing the win for FEU.
“Medyo yung adjustment namin naging mahirap dahil yung ibang players namin naka-focus sa [UAAP] Beach VOlleyball. So mahirap din sa side namin magalit,” shared Diaz. “Kung ano man yung full potential nila, nailalabas naman nila. Yung instruction namin very minimal kaya nakakatuwa na nalagpasan nila yung fifth set.”
Jude Garcia and Paler added 13 and nine points respectively.
NU ace Bryan Bagunas was only plugged in the game during the first set as he was experiencing back spasms.
Ismail led NU with 19 points while Kim Malabunga finished with 15 markers.
FEU looks to make it two in a row when it faces the DLSU Green Spikers on Saturday, September 9 at 10:00am. NU, on the other hand, hopes it can bounce back against the same team on Monday, September 11 at 10:00am.
The Scores:
FEU (3) – Bugaoan 22, Solis 15, Garcia 13, Paler 9, Quiel 5, Silang 3, Bautista 3, Salabsab 1, Suarez 0, Detablan 0, Dablo 0, Marmeto (L).
NU (2) – Ismail 19, Malabunga 15, Natividad 12, Saura 11, Gampong 9, Dayandante 3, Ancheta 1, Bagunas 0, Marcos (L).
