With their last finals appearance being in 2019, the Far Eastern University (FEU) nailed a win to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20, to come back to the title match of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament earlier today, May 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

After a semifinal showdown preview last April 26 at the same venue, green-and-gold rookies Amet Bituin and Mikko Espartero orchestrated an offensive tango to take control of the first frame.

However, Morayta’s error-ridden antics quickly held the team back by the 24-24 deadlock, resulting in a 24-26 set loss.

It was a display of toughness from FEU and DLSU entering the second frame, but the former’s 5-0 run overlapped the latter.

The same standstill situation was seen again by 20-20, with team captain Jelord Talisayan stepping in for Espartero.

It was not long until Bituin initiated three attacks that pushed the tally to 25-23, sealing the second-set win.

The Eddieson Orcullo-led squad’s weak spots were slowly exposed entering the third set, with La Salle targeting their attacks at empty open paint.

This called for a shift to a net-focused defensive approach for the Tamaraws, combined with early attacks from Doula Ndongala and Lirick Mendoza, 8-8.

Sure enough, FEU maintaining their blocking strides proved effective until a set win, 25-19.

By the fourth frame, the Big Dome witnessed a back-and-forth exchange of points as early as 11-11. At the 17-17 mark, FEU took matters into their own hands to balloon the lead to 25-20, capped off by Mendoza’s kill spike.

In the post-game presser, Saavedra expressed his sentiments after making it to the finals after their heartbreaking exit in Season 86.

“Sa umpisa ng last season, hanggang ngayon, dala-dala ko ‘yun, ‘eh, and ngayon, nahinto bigla, nawala… Lahat nagtulungan kanina; konting lapses, pinag-uusapan agad para ma-overcome namin, so nakaka-proud. Deserving lahat (At the start of last season until now, I brought that luggage with me and today, it stopped… All were contributing; there were a few lapses, but it was communicated over so that we would overcome it, so it makes me proud. Everyone deserves it),” he said. 

Espartero showed gratitude for his opportunity to represent FEU.

“Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa coaches, kay Coach Ed [Eddieson Orcullo], binigyan niya ako ng opportunity na maglaro… Gusto ko i-seize 'yung moment na nasa loob ako ng court at walang tapon… Ngayong finals, tuloy-tuloy pa rin hanggang makuha ‘yung gusto naming champion[ship] (I want to thank the coaches, especially Coach Ed, for giving me the opportunity to play… I want to seize the moment on the court without mistakes… This finals, that will still continue until we achieve our long-awaited championship),” the outside hitter added. 

Together, Espartero and Ndongala spearheaded the offensive category with 17 points apiece, while Mendoza followed with 14. Saavedra and Bituin then tallied 11 markers each. 

Now in finals territory, the Tamaraws await their next opponent between National University and University of Santo Tomas, with the date and venue yet to be announced.

- Joshua Kyle Beltran
(Photo by Karch Rafael/FEU Advocate)