For Dryx Saavedra and Far Eastern University, everything starts from zero once again.
A second straight UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Finals appearance may sound like continuity, but for the Tamaraws, it carries no weight as they march into the biggest stage with only one thing in mind: the championship they let slip before.
Being the top seed and surviving a five-set thriller against fourth-ranked Ateneo de Manila University in the Final Four were significant milestones, but Saavedra knows those accomplishments mean little without the crown to complete the journey.
After powering FEU with 14 points in their gritty win over the Blue Eagles, the Season 86 Best Opposite Spiker made his intentions unmistakable: “Pipilitin natin ibalik yung korona sa Morayta.”
“Itong time na ito, pipilitin namin na kami naman kasi yun nga, number one din kami noon pero siyempre bura na yun. Kailangan talaga naming pagtrabahuhan pa and siyempre pipilitin natin ibalik yung korona sa Morayta,” Saavedra said postgame Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
FEU came within reach of a do-or-die Game 3, but instead of cracking under pressure, Saavedra took pride in how the Tamaraws responded when the stakes were at their highest.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
After racing to an 8-3 lead in the fifth set, Ateneo mounted one last push behind Aimar Okeke’s back-to-back crosscourt hits and an Amil Pacinio block on Amet Bituin, trimming the gap to 12-11 and threatening a collapse.
But FEU held its ground. Three straight attacks from Bituin steadied the Tamaraws just in time, sealing their return to the Finals.
“Dumating din kami sa part na na-experience namin ulit ‘yung pressure, kung sa kwarto parang ang hirap lumabas, kaya good thing lang, mindset ng lahat, hindi pumasok sa isip namin na matatalo kami sa game,” Saavedra said.
“During game kasi kanina, nag-sink in din sa akin yung mga nangyari, lalo na nung Season 86, nandoon kasi ako eh. Pumasok sa isip ko na same talaga ito nung Season 86 kaya pinilit ko na hindi dapat ito mangyari. Sobrang hirap pag mag-Game 2 kasi ang momentum na sa kanila kasi nakuha nila ang Game 1,” he added.
For Saavedra, the Tamaraws’ defining edge has become their resilience under pressure—and the calmness to stay composed when everything tightens.
Now, FEU sets its sights on the winner of the other Final Four clash between second-seed National University and third-seed University of Santo Tomas, with a best-of-three Finals awaiting.
“Nag-relax kami, kinakalma namin yung sarili namin sa court kasi grabe yung pressure eh, talagang pinupush kami pababa. Kailangan din namin ienjoy yung laro para lumabas yung laro namin,” Saavedra said.
“Masasabi ko rin na ready kami kasi yung experience na nakapag-finals, nakuha namin last season eh, so ito kami ulit babalik kami.”
