During Far Eastern University’s rise to the top seed in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament, rookie Andrei Delicana played a pivotal role.
The 6-foot open spiker from Dumangas National High School in Iloilo finished 12th in the scoring race after the elimination round with 180 points and ranked ninth in spiking efficiency at 41.3 percent.
Despite securing the No. 1 seed, the Tamaraws suffered a heartbreaking upset against fourth-ranked University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four, ending their season in disappointment.
Delicana was expected to be a cornerstone for FEU moving forward. However, he was notably absent from the Season 87 roster.
“Yung bata kasi nagpaalam na mas okay sa kanyang mag-abroad. Actually, sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Why not finish your studies first before you go abroad?’ Pero pamilya nila ang nagdesisyon na pumunta siya ng abroad, tapos yun na,” FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo told Tiebreaker Times.
Despite Delicana’s departure, several players stepped up to fill the void.
In FEU’s opening match of Season 87, the Tamaraws exorcised their past demons with a 20-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-20 victory over UST.
Rookie Mikko Espartero shined with a game-high 19 points, delivering 16 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while also contributing six digs and six receptions.
For Orcullo, this performance underscored FEU’s commitment to maintaining its competitive edge.
“Sa FEU kasi, even before, kung ano yung mawawala, hindi hahanapin ng team. Ang gusto namin mangyari, kapag may nawala, may bagong opportunity para sa iba. Laging naka-mindset sa players yun — na huwag tayong matakot sa growth ng bata,” said Orcullo, now in his second year as head coach.
“Tulad niyan, nagpaalam siya na pupunta siya ng abroad. Eh, growth yun, di ba?”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Espartero had been with the Tamaraws since last season but was on Team B, validating Orcullo’s philosophy of always having players ready to step up.
Delicana, meanwhile, suited up for FEU in the 2024 V-League Collegiate Challenge from July to October but was left out of the lineup for the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference, which ran until December.
“Bago po ako sumalang dito, inisip ko po talaga yung laging sinasabi nila Coach Edd na minsan lang tayong napagbibigyan ng oportunidad na maglaro sa pinakamalaking liga sa Pilipinas. Kaya lagi kong sine-seize ang moment sa bawat game na naglalaro ako sa loob ng court,” said the 20-year-old Antique native.
Orcullo, however, remains open to the possibility of Delicana’s return.
“Last time, before Christmas, sabi niya dadating siya ng January. Hindi naman siya nagpunta. So ako, looking forward ako kung anong gagawin niya. Kung babalik siya, okay din ako doon — wala naman akong problema,” said Orcullo.
