When Far Eastern University finally broke its four-game losing streak by frustrating University of Santo Tomas in five sets, Mark Calado felt relieved.
It had been game after game where the Tamaraws found themselves on the losing end of the court after a strong 6-2 start to the tournament.
All the hard luck they encountered even prompted Calado to call the slump a “curse.”
“Sobrang happy po kami lahat, sobrang saya kasi naputol ‘yung–sabi ko nga po, naputol ‘yung sumpa kasi apat na sunod-sunod na game,” expressed Calado, who topscored with 21 points on 19 attacks, and a block together with seven digs against the Golden Spikers.
In their four-game demise, three of those came via five-setters, starting with De La Salle University last March 29, University of the East on April 2, and Ateneo de Manila University last Wednesday. Their other defeat was a four-set affair versus undefeated National University last April 16.
Finally getting over that deciding set hump, the league’s leading scorer credited their team chemistry for getting back to the win column.
“Siguro nagbago po talaga ‘yung bonding din namin as a team, mas lalong tumibay eh kasi alam mo ‘yung eagerness talaga nila na, fifth set ‘to kailangan natin kunin ‘to,” said the Season 80 Boys Volleyball MVP.
“Yun nakikita ko sa bawat isa na gusto talaga nilang–‘yung mga nakaraang games, gusto pa nilang lampasan.”
Not only did the Tamaraws snap their losing streak, but they are also still in the Final Four range with a 7-6 record, along with La Salle (7-5) and Ateneo (6-6) with two tickets left.
The 2021 PNVF Men’s Champion League MVP shared that these five-set encounters will be instrumental for the Tamaraws down the stretch. FEU will wrap up the eliminations next Sunday against also-ran Adamson University.
“Makakatulong po ‘yun pagka… mga crucial diba, pagka-dikitan ‘yung mga laro, ayun sobrang malaking tulong ‘yun sa amin, and then sa experience din po ng mga kasama ko,” he said.
“Lagi ko naman po sinasabi sa bawat isa, at sinasabi din ako ng mga kasama ko na magpakalma lang, magrelax, magfocus ulit, at pag nagkamali, balikan ulit.”
