The Far Eastern University Tamaraws kept their Recto neighbors grasping at straws, slamming the University of the East Red Warriors, 25-15, 25-16, 25-22, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
UE was a day removed from losing their head coach Sammy Acaylar and had to be taken over by their athletic director and UAAP board member Rod Roque.
Nevertheless, the Tamaraws did not take their opponents misfortunes as an excuse to relax.
“Siyempre, pagdating sa court, pantay-pantay lahat ng teams. Every set, start sa 0-0, kaya kailangan mo kunin bawat puntos. Kahit sino pa kalaban namin, kailangan maganda ang igalaw namin,” thought FEU heas coach Rey Diaz.
“Happy naman kami sa nilaro namin. Ang target naman namin every game is magawa ‘yung gameplan namin. Hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy lang,” Diaz continued, adding he’s excited to see how his team will fare against pernnial finalists NU Bulldogs, who booted then out of the Final Four last season. “Malaking test talaga sa amin ang NU. Una, malalaki ang players tapos maabilidad talaga. Tapos, magaling din ang coaches nila. Sana maging maganda ang resulta para sa amin.”
Middle blocker JP Bugaoan topped the Tamaraws with 12 points, coming off 11 attacks and one block while team captain Richard Solis managed 11 markers.
FEU (5-0) faces off against the Bulldogs (3-1) on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Noel Alba and Clifford Inoferio tallied eight points apiece.
The Red Warriors (0-6) take on the Adamson Soaring Falcons (1-3) on March 4.
The Scores
FEU (3) – Bugaoan 12, Solis 11, Quiel 7, Bautista 6, Garcia 6, Salabsab 6, Suarez 6, Paler 2, Dablo 0, Hadlocon 0, Marmeto (L)
UE (0) – Alba 8, Inoferio 8, Ortega 5, Adriano 4, Aljas 4, Imperial 1, Balquierda 0, Benitez (L)
