Far Eastern University clinched the top seed in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament after a hard-fought 26-24, 22-25, 23-25, 25-9, 15-12 win over Adamson University on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Tamaraws improved to a 12-1 record, riding a four-game winning streak with one match left in the elimination round against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, a potential Final Four preview on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Although National University can still tie them at the top, FEU has already secured the No. 1 seed due to its four-set win over NU in the first round, compared to the Bulldogs’ five-set victory in the second round.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Malaking bagay ‘yung ganitong five sets kasi nakikita namin ‘yung mga kulang ng bawat isa. Siguro, marami pang puwedeng maging adjustments, nakikita namin kung saan kami puwedeng mas mag-improve sa ginagawa namin,” said FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo.
To secure the top seed heading into the Final Four, where they are also projected to face the fourth-ranked Blue Eagles, the Tamaraws had to survive a tough challenge from the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
Adamson took control of the match after winning the second and third sets through timely execution in crunch time, but FEU forced a decider after a dominant 25-9 fourth set that lasted just 18 minutes.
The Tamaraws raced to an 11-6 lead in the deciding frame, but Zyro Ornos sparked a 4-0 run for the Falcons to trim the deficit to just one, 10-11.
However, back-to-back errors by Richard Besorio and Ahmed Tahiluddin halted Adamson’s momentum, while Mikko Espartero sealed the win for FEU after two hours and 10 minutes.
Espartero led the Tamaraws with 22 points and 19 excellent receptions, while Dryx Saavedra added 17 points on 13 attacks, three blocks, and one ace.
Ariel Cacao orchestrated the offense with 33 excellent sets, as Lirick Mendoza and Amet Bituin also finished in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Besorio paced the Soaring Falcons with 17 points and 16 excellent receptions, while Ornos and Tahiluddin chipped in 12 points each.
Adamson finished with a 3-11 record, currently in eighth place, with the University of the Philippines (3-10) still having one game left in the season.
Despite the struggles, it was still an improvement for the Soaring Falcons, who only managed two wins last year.
