A taste of the UAAP finals atmosphere will go a long way for the FEU Tamaraws and their title aspirations.
The FEU Tamaraws may have fallen short against the NU Bulldogs for the UAAP Season 87 title, but they will nonetheless end their campaign with lessons that can help them get over the hump by next season.
In ending a lengthy finals drought in Morayta, this current core of Tamaraws also got a first-hand experience of the UAAP finals atmosphere, where the pressure and the level of competitiveness are at their highest.
Given FEU’s rookie-laden core, star opposite Dryx Saavedra knows that his team can only get better after getting the privilege to play for a UAAP title in Season 87.
Along with learning from a champion team like National U, FEU also had the chance to play before larger-than-usual crowds, with Game 3 being witnessed by a record-breaking 14,517 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last Saturday, May 17.
“Sobrang proud sa lahat, and ang laking bagay talaga ng finals samin kasi halos lahat sa amin, sobra sa kalahati, rookies eh. So good thing ‘yun kasi maaga pa lang, nae-experience na namin agad ‘yung ganitong laruan. So ‘yun talaga ‘yung pagtatrabahuhan namin, na pahinga tapos trabaho ulit,” Saavedra said in an exit interview moments after FEU’s Game 3 loss to the Bulldogs.
FEU seemed on track to end the Bulldogs’ dynasty in their best-of-three Finals, which started with a show of resiliency to steal Game 1 against the defending champions.
NU would respond accordingly with a thrilling Game 2 victory, but not before FEU forced a fifth and deciding set after falling to a 2-1 set deficit.
While Game 3 was a straight-set loss for the Morayta-based side, they continued to showcase their immense fighting spirit, where they erased a 12-20 deficit in Set 2 before falling short in the endgame, and had the Bulldogs playing catchup early into Set 3.
For his part, Saavedra dazzled in his first finals appearance with the Morayta-based side, which included a 24-point outing in Saturday’s rubber match against National U.
“Sa akin, sobra [good experience], parang alam ko na next season ready na ako agad sa ganitong situation, na game na pag finals, ganito pala talaga. Sobrang iba sa eliminations, and makakatulong talaga sakin na i-ready ko ‘yung sarili ko pag dumating kami sa point na lalaban kami ng finals,” the star opposite reflected.
Like Saavedra, breakout star Mikko Espartero is also keeping his head up high after their finals loss, knowing that the Tamaraws gave it their all throughout the three-game series against National U.
While he struggled against the Bulldogs, Espartero also knows that his first finals experience will be crucial in helping him navigate such high-pressure situations moving forward.
“Ayun, siguro tinrabaho naman po namin, and ginawa naman namin ‘yung best namin para makuha ‘yung gusto namin. Pero ayun, good experience sa amin, lalo na para sa akin.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.