Two seasons have passed, yet two scars still sting Far Eastern University to this day.
For Dryx Saavedra and the Tamaraws, motivation doesn’t require a long, dramatic search—it lives in memory: in the abrupt silence of a Final Four exit in Season 86 after finishing the eliminations as the top seed, and in the crushing weight of a three-game Finals defeat in Season 87 that slipped through their fingers.
“Lagi naman namin napapagusapan ‘eh, kahit sinasabi nila na kalimutan na, syempre magiging fuel din namin yan as motivation na dapat yung lahat may same eagerness na hindi na mangyari ulit yung ganon,” the Season 86 Best Opposite Spiker said during the league’s official Media Day last Saturday at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong.
“Iniisip namin yung mga lapses namin last season, tsaka big thing din yung na-experience namin maglaro sa Finals last season ‘eh. ‘Yon yung pinanghahawakan namin na sana ngayong Season 88, dala-dala namin.”
From topping the eliminations to being on the wrong side of history, to watching their title hopes vanish right before their eyes, Saavedra’s four-year journey with FEU has indeed been an emotional rollercoaster.
Eager to prove that third time is the charm, the Tamaraws will bank on their chemistry to find closure from the heartbreaks and near-misses of the past two seasons in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
“Sa totoo lang, ‘yon yung binubuo namin—yung chemistry sa loob ng court. Yung connection namin, bonding namin inside and outside the court. Siguro ‘yon yung isa na kaya namin ipagmalaki na sobrang dikit namin sa isa’t-isa dahil sobrang intact ng team,” Saavedra shared.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
However, standing in FEU’s way of a record-extending 26th UAAP men’s volleyball title are two contenders who honed their skills through baptism by fire in international competition, testing themselves on the national team stage during the offseason.
For defending champion National University, long-time head coach Dante Alinsunurin, team captain Peng Taguibolos, and the trio of Leo Ordiales, Buds Buddin, and Jade Disquitado all represented Alas Pilipinas Men during a historic stint at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship last September.
Meanwhile, perennial contender University of Santo Tomas saw two-time UAAP MVP Josh Ybanez and head coach Odjie Mamon join the Philippines’ World Championship campaign, while opposite spiker Al-Bukharie Sali donned the national team colors in a bronze-medal finish at the 2025 SEA Games.
Still, instead of seeing these teams as threats, Saavedra revealed that the Tamaraws are eager to clash against the Bulldogs and the Golden Spikers—not just to seek revenge for the heartbreaks of the past two seasons, but to learn lessons that could boost their title bid.
“Pumapasok sa isipan namin pag ganyan ay sinasabi namin na hindi tulad sa kanila na nakapaglaro na sa international, pinaghuhugutan namin na dapat kayanin namin sila kalaban dahil malaking opportunity din na yung mga teams na nakapaglaro na sa international,” the Igbaras, Iloilo native explained.
“Big thing para sa amin na matuto rin sa kanila and syempre, parang achievement din sa amin if kaya namin sila talunin or makipagsabayan sa kanila.”
FEU will open Season 88 against a retooled De La Salle University side this Saturday, February 14, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
