Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws suffered a five-setter loss to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers, 30-28, 17-25, 25-22, 16-25, 8-15, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 men’s volleyball tourney held earlier today, March 1, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. 

Both teams were scrapping for the lead but green-and-gold spiker Mark Calado scored 10 points in the set alone en route to their 30-28 victory in the first set.

The Morayta-based team was easily countered by UST in the second set after losing by eight points, but managed to clinch the third set after putting on a defensive clinic with six total blocks.

FEU went on to lose the next two sets due to sloppy defense and poor offensive adjustments, 2-3.

In a post-game interview with FEU Advocate, FEU Head Coach Rei Diaz Jr. stressed their lack of effort as the catalyst for their defeat.

"Sabi ko nga sa players natin ‘di tayo pwedeng gan’yan gumalaw kung sinasabi natin na gusto nating manalo pero 'di naman tayo nag-eeffort. So I think magandang opportunity ‘to na matuto tayo na kung gusto natin manalo, kailangan magtrabaho tayo (As I've told our players, we cannot act like this, saying we want to win but not putting in the effort. Soso I think this is a good opportunity to learn that if we want to win, we need to work for it)," he said.

Calado ended the game with 21 markers from 19 attacks and two blocks, while rookie Zhydryx Saavedra chipped in another double digit scoring output with 13 points from 12 spikes and one block

The Jelord Talisayan-captained squad sits on an even 1-1 record and will try to go back to the winning column against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on March 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

-Andrei M. Barrantes

(Photo courtesy of The UAAP)