For Dryx Saavedra, the dream of bringing Far Eastern University back to the pinnacle of UAAP men’s volleyball still burns bright—but so does the uncertainty of whether he will be around to see it through in Season 89.
The Tamaraws’ cornerstone opposite hitter, who still has one year of eligibility left, remained non-committal about whether he will return for his final year or finally take the leap to the professional ranks, weighing personal growth against unfinished business with FEU’s long title drought.
His latest campaign only deepened that dilemma. The pride of Igbaras, Iloilo once again anchored the Tamaraws to a second straight runner-up finish, only to fall short against the “six-peat” champions National University Bulldogs in the Season 88 Finals.
Coming off a Best Opposite Spiker award in Season 87, Saavedra sustained his elite form in Season 88, finishing as the league’s sixth-best scorer with 234 points built on 203 attacks, 20 blocks, and 11 aces. He also posted a 44.62-percent spiking efficiency (sixth-best overall) and averaged 0.17 aces per set (10th in the league).
In the Finals, he opened Game 1 with a 20-point outing and two excellent digs before being limited to eight points on a 7-of-25 attack efficiency in the winner-take-all Game 2.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Sa akin, nasa puso ko pa rin naman talaga na mag-stay ako, pero depende rin sa opportunity,” Saavedra admitted after a 26-24, 25-22, 25-22 loss to NU in Game 2 of the Season 88 Finals, Saturday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Pero ayon nga, mas malaki yung chance talaga na maglalaro pa ako. Siyempre, ayun nga, kung sa sarili ko lang personally, hindi pa ako tapos, hindi pa tapos talaga, kasi hindi pa namin naaabot yung goal namin. Marami pang chance, tuloy-tuloy pa rin,” he added.
Despite another heartbreaking finish, Saavedra took pride in how FEU battled through adversity to remain among the league’s elite alongside NU, University of Santo Tomas, and Ateneo de Manila University.
Those challenges, he noted, not only tested the Tamaraws as a team but also shaped them individually, with three starters earning individual recognition before the squad suffered another familiar ending.
Team captain Ariel Cacao, who also still has one year of eligibility, was named Best Setter, while Lirick Mendoza and Vennie Ceballos earned Best Middle Blocker and Best Libero honors, respectively.
“Siguro ano, ako still proud pa rin ‘eh kasi nga sobrang dami naming pinagdaanan at hindi naman biro yung lahat ng pinagdaanan namin. Lahat naman siguro ng sacrifices namin at ginawa namin, nag-pay off pa rin, kinapos lang. Hindi pa naman dito natatapos yung journey namin,” Saavedra expressed.
Beyond chasing that elusive UAAP crown, Saavedra’s possible return is also anchored on a deeper responsibility—guiding FEU’s young core as a senior leader.
Throughout Season 88, emerging talents like Amet Bituin, Kyle Tandoc, and Luis Miguel showed flashes of promise, hinting at a future where they could both support Saavedra’s charge and eventually carry the load themselves.
“Siguro ako, as part na rin ng seniors, doon pa rin ako sa pagiging role model ng teammates ko at sa paggabay sa mga bata. Kasi ayon nga, kami rin yung magbu-build ng knowledge sa kanila kung paano dapat makitungo or paano gumalaw sa team at family namin,” he said.
“Doon pa rin ako sa pagiging kuya sa team.”
