For the first time in over six years, Far Eastern University stunned defending champion National University with a 27-25, 25-14, 25-23 victory, becoming the sole undefeated team in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
After eking out a hard-fought win in the opening set, the Tamaraws asserted their dominance in the succeeding frames.
What was expected to be a tightly-contested battle turned into a statement win for FEU, marking its first triumph over the five-peat-seeking Bulldogs since their opening-day match-up in Season 81 on February 16, 2019.
With the victory, the Tamaraws climbed to the top of the standings with a pristine 3-0 record, while NU dropped to a tie for second place with Ateneo de Manila University, both holding 2-1 slates.
“Yung trabaho namin, hindi kami tumitigil. Kung nakita niyo yung moment sa ensayo namin, simula noong last game hanggang ngayon, hindi pa kami tumitigil magensayo at hindi pa kami nagpapahinga,” FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo said.
“Yung dedication tsaka yung hard work, samahan natin ng magandang pamilya sa team, talagang nakikita yung result sa dulo.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Tied at 16-all in the third set, FEU unleashed a crucial 6-1 run, spearheaded by Season 86 Best Opposite Spiker Dryx Saavedra and Congolese middle blocker Doula Ndongala, to seize a comfortable 22-17 advantage.
NU fought back, trimming the deficit to 24-23 after three consecutive attack errors from Amet Bituin and Saavedra. However, Saavedra quickly redeemed himself, delivering a clutch crosscourt hit to secure the one-hour, 25-minute victory.
The second set saw FEU turn a slim 8-10 deficit into a commanding 18-10 lead, thanks to an ace from Bituin, a Jelord Talisayan down-the-line attack, and a crucial service error from NU’s Congolese middle blocker Obed Mukaba.
The opening set was a different story, as the Tamaraws had to rally from a 22-24 deficit to steal the frame. Key plays from Saavedra — who fired a backrow crosscourt hit — plus an attack error from NU’s Leo Ordiales and a timely block by Ndongala sealed FEU’s early momentum.
“Yung simula, talagang nakaprepare tayo doon ‘eh. Ang pinag-uusapan natin diyan kasi yung nasa gitna ka tsaka sa padulo [ng season], ‘yon ang lagi namin sinasabi sa isa’t isa. Even sa coaches, hindi tumitigil sa ginagawa kasi nagsisimula pa lang yung laban, kaya dapat lagi lang laban nang laban every single game,” Orcullo added.
Against a relatively tall Bulldogs squad, the Tamaraws flexed their height and defensive depth with 10 blocks compared to NU’s four.
Saavedra led the charge for FEU with 20 points on 17 attacks and three blocks with one dig. Meanwhile, Talisayan tallied 11 points on six attacks, three aces, and two blocks with 14 excellent receptions
The Tamaraws received timely contributions off-the-bench from Bituin, who tallied 10 points on eight attacks, one block, and one ace with five excellent receptions and one excellent dig, while Ariel Cacao tossed 14 excellent sets and one point.
FEU now sets its sights on extending its unbeaten run when it takes on Ateneo next Sunday, March 2, at the same Pasay venue.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Buds Buddin paced the Bulldogs in the losing effort with 12 points on 10 attacks, one block, and one ace, while Leo Aringo tallied 10 points with one ace along with eight excellent receptions and two excellent digs.
Starting setter Greg Ancheta distributed nine excellent sets in the loss, while libero Jimwell Gapultos tallied nine excellent receptions and six excellent digs.
NU looks to bounce back against a struggling University of the East squad on the same day.
