The FEU Tamaraws take Game 1 over the NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Finals.
The FEU Tamaraws on Sunday charged back from the brink of defeat, completing an epic comeback against the NU Bulldogs 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13 to take Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Finals at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Lefty opposite Dryx Saavedra dazzled in his UAAP finals debut, showing the way with a game-high 25 points, while rookie Amet Bituin remained unfazed under pressure as he finished with 16 points and four digs to backstop the third-year Saavedra.
“Unang una, nagti-thank you ako kay Lord kasi pinayagan niya na mangyari samin ito. And sakin kasi, kanina, cinommit ko lang talaga ‘yung sarili ko sa game, and sabi ko lahat ng ibibigay sakin, kailangan pusuan ko. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung [usapan] namin nung past few days, na lahat ng gagawin mo, pusuan mo,” said Bituin, a homegrown rookie out of FEU-Diliman.
FEU’s fightback took shape after an erratic Set 3 showing, going on to blitz the Bulldogs in Set 4 behind the efforts of Saavedra and Buddin to go along with the defending champs’ seven unforced errors throughout the frame.
National U, though, nearly mounted a comeback late in the fourth frame, with a late rally led by Buds Buddin allowing the Bulldogs to inch closer, 22-24. Unfortunately, this proved to be the last of their fight, as a Leo Ordiales service error gave way for a fifth and deciding frame.
While Set 5 started out as a dogfight, another set of clutch kills from Bituin and Saavedra gave the Tams a crucial two-point lead, 9-11, late into the deciding frame.
A Buddin swipe allowed National U to inch closer, 10-11, before Jeffe Gallego’s service went short to give the Tamaraws another two-point cushion.
A service error from Buddin allowed FEU to reach match point, 14-12. While a late Disquitado hit gave a slight lifeline to the Bulldogs once more, a clutch save by Vennie Ceballos on the succeeding rally set up the game-winning kill by Bituin to seal the Game 1 win.
“Alam mo ‘yung preparation kung paano mo gagawin ang isang bagay, na kung gusto mong kunin ‘yung isang bagay? ‘Yun ‘yung pinaguusapan namin ng mga boys, even the coaches, na pilitin natin kunin kasi nag-prepare naman tayo eh, prepared naman ‘yung team sa lahat ng bagay,” head coach Eddieson Orcullo said.
“So siguro, ‘yun nga, ‘yung pagkagutom namin sa finals is kailangan ilabas.”
Sunday’s dogfight now marks FEU’s first finals victory since UAAP Season 74 in 2012, while National U now suffers their first loss on the big stage since they fell to Marck Espejo and the Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 79 (2017).
‘Walang titigil’
Game 2 is now scheduled for this Wednesday, May 14, with NU looking to force a do-or-die Game 3, and FEU hoping to deliver a historic 26th UAAP men’s volleyball title back to Morayta.
Should the Tams close things out, title number 26 will serve as their first UAAP title since snapping the UST Golden Spikers’ own five-peat bid back in Season 74.
“Isang step pa, ‘yung kalahati pa lang kasi nakapasok eh. So isa pa bago namin maipasok ‘yung buong katawan namin doon. So siguro walang titigil hangga’t wala pa, hindi pa tapos. So kung ano man mangyari sa Wednesday, eh pagtatrabahuhang maigi ‘yan,” Orcullo said of Wednesday’s game.
But as early as now, National U has promised to come out swinging in order to force a decisive Game 3 that will take place next Saturday, May 17.
“Mabigat sa pakiramdam ‘yung pagkatalo, pero alam namin na may chance pa kaming makabawi sa Game 2. Siguro sa sarili ‘yan magsastart kung paano kami magprepare, na hindi lang sa dorm, hindi lang sa training, pero pati sa sarili talaga,” reflected Buddin, who finished with 12 points as he continues to recover from an ankle sprain.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.