By Leiniel A. Santos

Five Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw seniors missed the chance to graduate as champions as they lost against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigers, 18-25, 25-21, 24-26, 24-26, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament earlier today, May 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Coach Eddieson Orcullo showed gratitude to Tamaraw senior Rey Sabanal, Vincent Nadera, Martin Bugaoan, JJ Javelona and team captain Jefferson Abuniawan.

“Nagpapasalamat ako kasi di tumitigil ‘yang mga yan, si Jefferson talagang ano ‘yan, makikita niyo naman all throughout the season mabibilang niyo lang kung ilang beses siya pumasok sa court pero ‘yung puso niyan mas malaki pa sa kanya. Actually ‘yung coaches, di naman nakakatawid yan kung wala si [Jefferson] eh (I'm thankful because those players don't stop, Jefferson is really what he is, you can see all throughout the season you can count how many times he entered the court, but his heart is bigger than him. Actually, the coaches, it doesn't get through without [Jefferson], eh),” he said.

For the first time in the season, Benny Martinez started  to set up the pace of the green-and-gold squad.

FEU’s offense were instantly activated, however, their errors limited them to raise their intensity and gain momentum.

Despite Dryx Saavedra’s six points in the first frame, Tamaraws’ seven errors propel them to lose the opening set.

The Morayta-based squad kicked off the second set with a dominating 5-1 score, but Josh Ybanez’s tough serves managed to force a 7-7 deadlock.

Fortunately, JJ Javelona’s attack stopped the bleeding which drived the Tamaraws to shift the momentum.

UST stormed back to cut the with a 5-0 run, but Gboy De Vega’s game-changin red card due to inappropriate service cut their momentum.

The Tamaraws secured an edge in the first part of the set, but the Golden Tigers have yet again reversed the tide of the game, 16-17.

While De Vega got fired up with successive out-of-system plays, his foot fault error gave FEU an opportunity to steal the set.

Unfortunately, De Vega entered the frontline and scored two-conservative attacks to gain set advantage, 2-1.

The green-and-gold squad started the fourth set with a lead, but still, UST managed to light up the scoreboard with out-of-system play by De Vega and Sherwin Umandal.

With 24-deadlock, De Vega and Umandal ended the match with back to back attacks.

Coach Orcullo still see the bright side with FEU’s loss against UST.

“‘Yung nangyari ngayon, dapat yan ‘yung di namin dapat makalimutan na feeling eh. Sa susunod hindi kami titigil talaga ng pagtatrabaho hangga’t ‘di natatapos ‘yung season. Sometimes ‘yung delay is not denied (What happened today, that should be a feeling we should never forget. Next time we will not really stop working until the season is over. Sometimes the delay is not denied),” he said.

Saavedra led the Tamaraws again with 20 points from 15 attacks, four blocks and one ace. Together with senior Javelona’s 16 markers from 13 attacks and three blocks.

The green-and-gold squad missed the chance to enter the finals against the fourth-seeded team.

(Photo by Karch Rafael/FEU Advocate)