FEU star Dryx Saavedra knows that this year’s team has grown by leaps and bounds from their Final Four collapse in UAAP Season 86.
The loss weighed heavily on the FEU Tamaraws heading into the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
After all, they had entered the Season 86 Final Four as the first seed with a twice-to-beat advantage — only to be disarmed by Josh Ybañez and the UST Golden Spikers for a chance to compete for a title.
“Sobrang, parang trauma ‘yun sa team. Kahit matagal na, parang naiisip pa din ng team talaga, so bali kami, ginagawa na lang naming motivation ‘yun na sana hindi maulit ulit,” star opposite Dryx Saavedra told The GAME during Round 1 of their Season 87 campaign.
A year after that massive collapse, the Tamaraws are on pace for a shot at redemption, having clinched a twice-to-beat advantage for the Season 87 Final Four after dispatching the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Easier said than done, but all that’s left for FEU is to capitalize on this second chance, and make their first UAAP finals appearance since Season 81 in 2018.
“Syempre masaya kasi ‘yun nga, nangyari ulit eh. Pero syempre tapos na ‘yung last year eh, so bagong chance na naman and opportunity ngayon, so ‘yun na lang talaga ‘yung gagawin namin eh, ‘yung ‘di na maulit ‘yung mangyari dati,” Saavedra would tell The GAME again, moments after FEU’s crucial victory over the Katipunan-based squad.
Similar to Season 86, the Tamaraws have been dominant throughout eliminations, going on a nine-game winning streak before falling to defending champs NU last March 30.
Behind their impressive form, Saavedra said, is a much-improved chemistry, with the team doubling as a safe space for each of its players.
“‘Yung relationship talaga ng mga seniors to juniors, parang ano ba, walang barrier sa isa’t isa kasi parang ano lang, parang same level lang na nakikipag-biruan, may tawanan, tapos walang nababastos. Walang nafi-feel ‘yung mga senior na mimamilit ang mga bata…talagang dikit talaga ‘yung relationship, sobrang intact talaga ng team ngayon,” he said.
The Tamaraws’ talent is just as rich within this season’s team. Gone are the likes of JJ Javelona, Andrei Delicana, and Martin Bugaoan from Morayta. Taking their place, however, are newcomers in former Team B player Mikko Espartero, and a rookie haul led by Doula Ndongala and Amit Bituin.
Espartero has emerged as a revelation for the Tams, while their rookies have each had their moments of brilliance throughout the season. So while Saavedra is the third-leading scorer (16.41 per game) for Season 87, the Tamaraws are by no means a one-man show.
“Nakaka-proud talaga, kasi pag nakikita ko ‘yung lower batch pa sa akin, ‘yung mga bata, mga rookies namin, talagang ano eh, masasabi mo talagang super rookie kasi nakikipagsabayan. Kahit first year, talagang hindi mo makikita na rookie sila maglaro,” the star lefty said of their newcomers.
“Talagang masasabi mong teamwork eh, ‘yun ‘yung maganda kasi lahat nagco-contribute and hindi namin iniisip ng isa’t isa samin ‘yung individual awards eh, ‘yung talagang doon kami naka-stick sa goal namin [na magchampion].”
Mental game
Earlier into UAAP Season 87, Saavedra pointed out that mental toughness has been key to the Tamaraws’ dominant form. Ahead of the Final Four, he stressed that it will spell the biggest difference in their redemption bid.
So along with the talent and chemistry, it’s really the poise under pressure that might just catapult FEU back into finals contention.
“Sa skills naman lahat pumapalag talaga eh, kahit [individually] nagko-contribute talaga, and ginagawa ‘yung part nila, so talagang mentally na lang dapat na paano ihahandle ‘yung pressure,” Saavedra said.
“And ‘yun nga, kung nag-ooverthink man, dapat may pagsabihan. Pero mabuti ‘yung relationship ngayon, na kapag may problema ka, open talaga lahat na makinig.”
FEU may have already suffered their first loss for Season 87, but Saavedra is nonetheless satisfied with the Tamaraws’ improved mental resilience.
“Na-open ko din naman sa team na bago pa lang magsimula ‘yung UAAP, dapat sobrang maayos ‘yung pag-handle ng pressure, and lahat ng pinag-uusapan namin about mental, na-aaply so ‘yun lang talaga. Ngayong second round medyo bumaba, [pero] pinipilit lang talaga namin bumalik sa kung ano ‘yung naumpisahan namin.”