Far Eastern University remained unbeaten through eight matches in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament with a 19-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-11 victory over the University of the East on Wednesday morning at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Tamaraws dropped the first set but quickly found their rhythm in the next three, fueled by timely contributions from Amet Bituin, Dryx Saavedra, and Charles Absin, keeping them atop the eight-team standings with a perfect 8-0 record.
FEU continued to pull away from the rest of the field, as defending champion National University and University of Santo Tomas remained tied for second and third at 5-2, while Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University were deadlocked for fourth and fifth at 3-4.
Up next for the Tamaraws is a Finals rematch against the six-peat-seeking Bulldogs at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Big Dome.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Hindi naman sa nagulat, pero expected na rin kasi talagang lalaban si UE. Alam naman natin yung seven teams na yan, wala naman ni isa diyan na pupunta dito sa UAAP tapos iisipin na hindi sila lalaban ‘eh,” FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo said.
“Pagtungtong ng lahat sa hard court, hard game. Siguro baka ‘yon nga yung sinasabi ko sa team na yung utak at yung damdamin, hindi nakikita kung paano yung araw ngayon. Pero yung skills kasi, puwede i-overload at puwede ulitin hanggang sa makuha ang tamang proseso,” he added.
Although FEU struggled in the opening set, the Tamaraws regained momentum in the second and third frames, taking a 25-19 second-set win before relying on a crosscourt hit and a block by Mikko Espartero to secure a hard-fought 26-24 victory in the third.
In the fourth set, FEU surged ahead immediately, opening an 11-point, 16-5 lead behind an Absin block, a Saavedra through-the-block hit, a Bituin off-the-block attack, and an Ariel Cacao block.
The Red Warriors could not close the gap, as back-to-back hits by Judi Garriedo and a game-winning off-the-block attack by Luis Miguel sealed FEU’s four-set win in one hour and 43 minutes.
Bituin led the Tamaraws with 15 points on 14 attacks and 11 excellent receptions, while Saavedra also scored 15 points along with four excellent digs. Lirick Mendoza contributed 12 points on nine attacks, two blocks, and one ace, and Absin added nine points on six attacks and three blocks.
Cacao delivered 25 excellent sets and three points, while sophomore libero Vennie Ceballos registered 18 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UE, Raquim Aceron topscored with 21 points on 18 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, alongside 14 excellent receptions and six excellent digs, as the Red Warriors dropped their fifth straight game to fall to 1-7.
Roy Piojo added 15 points with 17 excellent receptions, while Xjhann Camaymayan contributed nine points on six attacks and three blocks.
UE will face the University of the Philippines at 9 a.m., also at the Big Dome.
