Far Eastern University may have been the top-ranked team in UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball, but its campaign ended in heartbreak as it settled for third place — thanks to University of Santo Tomas.
The Golden Spikers stunned the Tamaraws with a two-game sweep in the Final Four, abruptly ending their championship hopes.
A season later, FEU has already avenged that painful exit, defeating UST twice in the elimination round. They capped their head-to-head sweep with a 26-24, 25-23, 25-19 victory in the second round on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The win extended the Tamaraws’ undefeated streak to eight games in Season 87.
However, for setter Ariel Cacao, their two wins over UST still don’t outweigh the sting of last year’s Final Four losses.
(C) Nicks Hernandez/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Sa akin, hindi pa rin eh,” said Cacao when asked if these victories had eased the pain.
“Kasi hindi pa natatapos, may semis pa or may finals pa. Kaya hanggang hindi natatapos, hindi pa rin kami dapat mapanatag. ‘Yung loob namin, hindi dapat gumaan ‘yung pakiramdam,” he continued.
“Hindi pa rin dapat mapanatag.”
Cacao played a crucial role in Sunday’s win, tallying 28 excellent sets out of 69 attempts, orchestrating a balanced attack led by Mikko Espartero’s 18 points and Dryx Saavedra’s 15.
The third-year setter from FEU-Diliman High School knows that past success against UST means nothing when it matters most. Last season, the Tamaraws also swept the Golden Spikers in the eliminations, only to be sent packing in the Final Four when UST found the right formula to shut them down.
That’s why Cacao, now one of the team’s leaders, constantly reminds his teammates to stay consistent, especially as they ride this impressive 8-0 run.
“Same pa rin sa sinasabi ko tulad nung first round na huwag namin hintayin na matalo kami bago kami mag-grind pa,” he said.
“Sinasabi ko sa kanila every training na ibigay natin ‘yung 100 percent natin, kasi ito ‘yung magdidikta sa ilalaro namin sa actual game.”
