By Angel Joyce C. Basa

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws took down the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in four sets, undeterred by team hurdles, 25-23, 32-30, 23-25, 25-15, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men's volleyball tourney earlier today, March 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Earlier this week, the Tamaraws faced challenges with players contracting sickness and going under isolation, and head tactician Eddieson Orcullo undergoing an Achilles tendon surgery. 

During the post-game conference, assistant coach Rene Dulay shared how they were motivated by each hurdle to continue playing their best regardless of the situation they were in.

“Talagang pinakita namin na kailangan namin ‘tong game na ‘to kasi kung magpapabaya kami, sayang ‘yung 3-0 standing namin, eh. Nagkaroon kami ng struggles and nakita niyo rin ‘yung kay Coach Ed, pero ‘yung sobrang passion ni Coach ‘tsaka ‘yung talagang puso niya nandun sa team, ‘di niya talaga iniwan (We really showed how we needed this game because if we neglect the game, our 3-0 standing will go to waste. We had struggles and you saw Coach Ed but his passion and his heart remained with the team, he never left it),” he explained.

Despite the situation, the green-and-gold squad showed a strong performance against the blue-and-white team’s challenging plays.

In the first set, FEU took the first four points to put an early lead ahead of Ateneo. The lead remained strong until the Tamaraws’ first set point that the Blue Eagles failed to stop, 25-23.

The second set opened with an early neck-and-neck exchange that continued throughout the frame, ending at an extended score of 32-30.

During the third frame, the match remained tight between the two teams, but due to the Morayta-based team’s erroneous plays, the ball favored the Katipunan-based squad in the end, 23-25.

The Tamaraws rallied towards the end, reasserting their dominance with a comfortable lead to dump the Blue Eagles under 10 points, 25-15.

Two players took the wheel, producing 21 points with Player of the Game (POG) Mikko Espartero scoring from 18 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while opposite spiker Dryx Saavedra showed force with 15 attacks, five blocks, and an ace.

Espartero then credited their team’s sports psychologist for helping them toughen up despite last week’s struggles.

"Grabe lang 'yung tulong siguro ng sports psychologist namin dahil napapa-control niya kami ng emosyon namin at maging todo kayod sa laro (Our sports psychologist really helped),” the POG stated.

With a clean 4-0 win-loss sheet, the Orcullo-led squad remains as the current top team who will face the bottom-ranking University of the East on Wednesday, March 5, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

(Photo by Aleena Louise Abad/FEU Advocate)