Surviving four-time defending champion National University in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Finals doesn’t guarantee success for head coach Eddieson Orcullo and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in their pursuit of a long-awaited UAAP title.
With one foot into their first UAAP men’s volleyball championship since Season 74 in 2012, Orcullo vowed to keep his Tamaraws as hungry as ever, despite their thrilling 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13 victory over the Bulldogs last Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
That hunger was on full display in FEU’s first Finals appearance since Season 81. The Tamaraws trailed by a set twice, but still managed to draw first blood thanks to Dryx Saavedra’s 25-point explosion; the emergence of rookie Amet Bituin, who chipped in 16 points; and the steady playmaking of Ariel Cacao, who delivered 24 excellent sets.
“Gutom kami kaya siguro naging ganun yung laro. Yung gutom kasi minsan ang daming nagagawa sa preparation, sa kung paano mo gagawin yung bagay na gusto mong kunin.
“Yun nga yung pinag-usapan namin ng boys, even the coaches, na pilitin nating kunin kasi prepared naman tayo eh. Prepared naman yung team sa lahat nang mangyayari. Siguro yung pagkagutom namin sa finals, kailangan (matuloy),” said Orcullo.
For Orcullo, what will continue to set FEU apart from NU in Game 2 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, is the Tamaraws’ grit and relentless hunger — not only to end their own title drought but to halt the Bulldogs’ dynasty as well.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
If FEU claims the championship, it will also crush NU’s hopes for a historic “five-peat” — just as the Tamaraws denied University of Santo Tomas a “five-peat” when they last lifted the trophy in Season 74.
“Baka di na kami matulog simulang mamayang gabi hanggang Miyerkules na siguro. Baka hindi na rin kami maligo para yung swerte nasa katawan namin, diba? Yung ganun kasing bagay, isang step pa,” Orcullo shared.
“Yung kalahati nakapasok eh, so isang step pa bago naming maipasok yung katawan namin dun. Siguro wala nang titigil. Hindi pa tapos at may isa pa. Kung ano ang mangyayari dun sa Wednesday, pinagtatrabahuang maigi yan.”
Beyond sustaining their hunger and mental toughness, Orcullo also pointed out the need for sharper execution. The Tamaraws committed 33 unforced errors in Game 1 — an uncharacteristic number that he believes must be reduced if FEU wants to complete a rare Finals sweep against NU.
The last team to sweep the Bulldogs in a best-of-three championship series was the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Season 79 back in 2017, led by Marck Espejo.
“Medyo yung error talaga nakadikit sa katawan ng players, pero thankful lang din kasi ‘pag may mage-error, gagawa ng positive yung isa,” he said.
“Yun yung pinakamaganda, yung relationship ng bawat isa. ‘Pag may mage-error, babawi yung isa, dalawang puntos ang kukunin.”
