Far Eastern University hosted a block party, denying University of Santo Tomas in a tight four-set battle, 25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 25-15 to strengthen its hold of the pole position in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
This is the Tamaraws’ sixth-straight win and they now have a one-game lead over National University (9-2) at first with a 10-1 record.
FEU swept its head-to-head elimination matchup with UST, which eliminated the former last season in the stepladder, also winning in the first round via a five-setter escape, 28-26, 21-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12.
“Bukod sa pag-aaral namin sa tactic and technique ni Coach Odjie sa UST, talagang well-motivated yung mga bata kaya kung makikita niyo yung mukha ng bawat isa from coaches to players, medyo talagang mainit yung dating,” said Tamaraws head coach Eddieson Orcullo.
“Nabasa lang siguro namin si Yambao sa mga binibigay niyang mga sets saka yung scouting na ginawa namin sa wing spikers at middle blockers kaya napunta sila doon sa moment na alam naming gawin kung paano sila i-stop,” he added as they registered 16 blocks against the seven of UST.
Vincent Nadera sent FEU to set point in the third canto with a solid rejection on Josh Ybañez while Martin Bugaoan’s soft touch gave them the frame, 25-22.
That was enough to suck the life out of the Golden Spikers as the Tamaraws just ransacked their foes in the fourth for the triumph in one hour and 58 minutes.
Ariel Cacao steered FEU with 25 excellent sets leading to four double-digit scorers led by middle blocker Bugaoan’s 21 points on 15 attacks and six blocks.
Andrei Delicana chipped in 18 points while JJ Javelona tallied 12 points and 17 excellent receptions for the Tamaraws. Dryx Saavedra also had 10 points while Lirick Mendoza got four blocks for six points.
FEU guns for a seventh-straight win on Wednesday against the 1-9 University of the East at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The three-game winning streak of the Golden Spikers was snapped, dropping them to 7-5, still at fourth but are just a game and a half above fifth-running Ateneo de Manila University (5-6).
Ybañez once again led his team with 21 points on 20-of-53 clip in the spiking department. Gboy De Vega added 18 points and 25 receptions.
UST will also face UE next, which will be on April 21 at the Big Dome as well.
