By Angel Joyce C. Basa

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws prevailed against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons in straight sets, 25-14, 25-21, 25-21, to sustain their perfect record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men's volleyball tourney today, March 1, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The green-and-gold team started the first set on a strong five-to-none rally to overpower opening attacks from AdU’s Jim Ducusin and Richard Besorio, 7-3.

With middle blocker Lirick Mendoza generating six points on the attack line, the Tamaraws bested the first frame with an 11-point advantage, 25-14.

In the second set, FEU maintained steady momentum despite the Soaring Falcons’ attempts to get ahead.

The Tamaraws endured neck-and-neck scores until Dryx Saavedra’s four attack points gave them a two-set advantage, 25-21.

The third frame remained a close match before team captain Ariel Cacao’s two consecutive aces and back-to-back blocks from Doula Ndongala and Amet Bituin, pushing the score to a five-point lead, 20-15.

Despite the Morayta-based squad retaining control, the San Marcelino-hailing team attempted to recover from the deficit but were unable to do so due to unforced errors, succumbing to a 25-21 defeat.

During the postgame conference, head coach Eddieson Orcullo shared his sentiments on the team's strong start to the season.

“‘Yung game, talagang malayo pa, pero ‘di kami titigil para mas lalong maabot natin ‘yung gusto nating mangyari (The game is still far from over, but we will not stop so that we can reach what we want to achieve),” he said.

Mendoza claimed the Player of the Game title with 12 points built on five attacks and seven blocks, while Bituin and Saavedra added 13 and 12 markers, respectively.

Libero Vennie Ceballos also made his presence felt with 19 excellent receptions, reflecting on the trust given to him by the coaching staff.

“Palaging sinasabi sa’min ni Coach Ed na ‘yung bola, [dapat] nilalagay namin ‘yung bawat mahal namin sa buhay… Kumbaga may buhay ‘yung bola namin. Kaya palagi kong tinatatak sa isip ko na gagawin ko lang talaga ‘yung trabaho ko sa court and magtutuloy-tuloy lahat (Coach Ed always tells us that we should always put our loved ones on the ball… like the ball has a life of its own. That is why I always put in my mind that I have to do my job on the court and everything else will follow),” he shared.

With a clean 4-0 win-loss record, the Morayta-based squad remains atop the season rankings and will face Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, March 4, at the same venue.

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)