The UST Golden Spikers force a rubber match, while the FEU Tamaraws avoid a repeat of last year’s heartbreak in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Final Four.
The UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Final Four certainly didn’t disappoint as it fired off on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Starting off this year’s Final Four festivities was UST’s 26-24, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18 over NU, which kept the Golden Spikers’ season alive as they forced a do-or-die scheduled for Wednesday, May 7 against the five-peat seeking Bulldogs.
Hours later, it was the FEU Tamaraws banishing the ghosts of the past, dispatching Noel Kampton and the DLSU Green Spikers 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 to secure their first finals appearance since Season 81 in 2019.
Don’t count UST out just yet.
History tells us that NU has the upper hand against UST in their Final Four matchup, given that they have already beaten the Golden Spikers in back-to-back finals, along with sweeping their elimination round matchups for Season 87. More likely than not, the Golden Spikers were already counted out before the Final Four even took place over the weekend.
However, it was here that the Golden Spikers proved their doubters wrong, seemingly figuring out the Bulldogs’ puzzle when it mattered the most. In taking advantage of Buds Buddin’s absence for National U, UST relied on pinpoint services to neutralize the Bulldogs’ offensive schemes, while tearing through their defense through a series of combination plays.
In some ways, it’s a familiar situation for the Golden Spikers, who mounted a Cinderella run in Season 86 after overcoming a twice-to-beat advantage against the top-seeded FEU Tamaraws to enter the finals, also against the Bulldogs.
For Ybañez, UST’s sudden rise in play can be attributed to their own belief. The odds may be stacked against them, but at the end of the day, even the most formidable foes still have their weaknesses that can be exploited.
“Actually, we have one word to describe [our win], and it’s belief, na maniwala lang nang maniwala. NU is a powerful and a strong team, but we know na beatable sila, na tao lang din sila and they commit mistakes. Kami din, naniwala lang kami sa sarili namin, and kumakapit kami sa sarili namin and sa coaches,” said UST star Josh Ybañez, who finished with a double-double of 22 points and 16 receptions against the Bulldogs.
Now, can they finally rewrite their history against the Bulldogs this Wednesday?
This could finally be the year for FEU
For their part, the Tamaraws were always haunted by the ghost of their Season 86 collapse against the Golden Spikers throughout Season 87. Sure, they were dominant throughout the current season, but it was always a matter of whether or not they can translate it into a Finals berth at the very least.
Saturday’s game proved to be the Morayta-based squad’s response, once again relying on a balanced effort as they played spoiler to Noel Kampton’s final UAAP game. In a show of improved mental toughness, it was the new additions Mikko Espartero and Doula Ndongala showing little to no jitters, leading the Tamaraws’ charge with 17 markers apiece.
Veterans Dryx Saavedra and Lirick Mendoza, along with rookie Amet Bituin added 11 markers, while Ariel Cacao tossed up an impressive 31 excellent sets as the Tamaraws bucked a first set hiccup against the Kampton-led DLSU.
“Yung nangyari kasi nung last season na dalawang beses kami tinalo ng UST, everyday naka-rub sa mukha namin ‘yon and hindi matanggal. Actually, ‘yung nangyari nung Season 86, parang ‘yun ‘yung naging motivation eh, na panghawakan namin nang maigi. Kung nakikita niyo lang ‘yung everyday na ginagawa sa ensayo, sa mga batang nakafocus sa pag-aaral at paglalaro, masarap lang tignan,” a proud FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo said.
“Kasi unang una ‘yung mga coaches namin, sa sobrang kagustuhan na makakuha ng gusto nating mangyari, talagang all aboard and lahat naka-lock in…Lahat ng nasa [FEU] athletics office, lahat naka lock in sa amin and tumutulong, kaya siguro nakuha namin itong big win na ito, kasi binigay ni Lord na deserve niyo ‘yan.”
Season 87 has no doubt been a special run for the Tamaraws, who flaunted elite depth on both ends of the floor to secure the number one seed. From the one-two punch of Espartero and Saavedra, to the veteran hands of Ariel Cacao, and even the middle blocking duo of Lirick Mendoza and Doula Ndongala, it’s clear that the Tamaraws have all the pieces to compete for a title.
But while they have exorcised the ghosts of the past, the question now is if they can deliver a 26th men’s volleyball title to Morayta.
NU hasn’t looked this vulnerable since…
In losing to UST on Saturday, NU’s five-peat aspirations have been pushed to a corner, which they hope to overcome on Wednesday’s rubber match. Again, history favors the Bulldogs in this matchup. But on the other hand, there is also UST’s own trend of being a giant-slayer based on their run in Season 86.
Hope is far from lost for the Bulldogs, but it’s also true that the Golden Spikers were able to neutralize their strengths over the weekend. Sure, four National U stars in Leo Aringo (18 points), Leo Ordiales (15 points), Jade Disquitado (14 points), and Peng Taguibolos (10 points) finished in double-digits, but it was clear that the defending champs were playing catchup to the Golden Spikers throughout the game.
If anything, this could probably be the most vulnerable NU has looked like since their Round 1 matchup against the FEU last February, where solid blockings from the Tamaraws dealt them their first loss for Season 87.
But this time around, head coach Dante Alinsunurin acknowledged that an off-night on receptions, to go along with hints of complacency, led to National U’s downfall against UST.
“Well, siguro ‘yung pasa talaga namin, sobrang baba ng receive namin kaya ‘yung first attack namin is nag-struggle kami. Although hindi naman sobrang pangit, and may chance pa rin naman kami kaso ‘yung advantage namin, talagang naging disadvantage eh, ‘yung twice to beat,” head coach Dante Alinsunurin told The GAME following the crucial loss.
“Hindi namin siya na-transalte para mas tumaas ‘yung kumpaynsa namin. Yung nangyari is parang nag-relax kami kasi may advantage kami.”
It’s the end of an era for DLSU.
It’s the Green Spikers who are expected to suffer some heavy losses after Season 87, with the graduations of Noel Kampton, Vince Maglinao, and captain-libero Menard Guerrero also signaling the end of an era in Taft. All three have been crucial in DLSU’s post-pandemic resurgence, with both Kampton and Guerrero being in contention for Best Outside Hitter and Libero awards, respectively, for Season 87.
Also set to graduate will be sparkplug Diogenes Poquita, backup libero Jonathan De Castro, while setter Eco Adajar is yet to decide on his return, according to head coach Jose Roque.
Given this, it’s going to be an interesting time for the Green Spikers, who hope to maintain their status as Final Four contenders even without most of their veteran leaders.
“Well, doble kami. Doble kayod talaga. At the same time, we’re looking for some of the rookies na mag-step up, and at the same time, trying to look for other players na will contribute more sa team. And of course, the rest is up to us, coaches na new program, new system in a way,” Roque said.
“Adjustment lang. Kung ano man yung nakita namin pagkukulang ngayon, we’ll adjust that. And then, hopefully, itong darating na Season 88, we can show you ano ‘yung changes na they’re expecting from us.”
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.