By Dwyane Harry L. Cabrera

Coming from a shattering finals loss last season, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Dryx Saavedra draws inspiration to embrace each other’s lapses heading into the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament.

“‘Yung heartbreaking loss na ‘yun is nag-push pa sa team na mahalin ang bawat isa in terms of gagawin ‘yung best sa game para mapagtakpan [‘yung] mga lapses na [nagagawa] ng isa’t isa (That heartbreaking loss pushed the team even more to support and trust one another, motivating everyone to give their best in every game to cover for each other’s lapses),” co-captain Saavedra stated in an online interview with FEU Advocate.

With last season’s defeat to National University continuing to linger, the Morayta-based squad shifted their focus toward refining their mindset and strengthening their chemistry.

Saavedra explained how the team is holding on to their said Finals experience, turning it into a blueprint for a different outcome. 

“Pinanghahawakan namin ‘yung experience na nakapaglaro kami ng Finals… Ginawa naming motivation na hindi na ulit ‘yun mangyari this season (We are holding on to the experience of having played in the Finals… We turned it into motivation to make sure it does not happen again this season),” he said.

While their individual skills remain strong, Saavedra emphasized that their mentality and maturity will be the key to success. 

“More on mentality talaga, need pa namin ng more maturity inside the court, at siyempre, ‘yung eagerness dapat namin is hindi mawawala ‘til the end ng season (It is really more about mentality; we still need more maturity on the court, and of course, our eagerness should not vanish until the end of the season),” he shared.

Looking to set the tone early, the Tamaraws seek their redemption step by step and will start their campaign against De La Salle University this Saturday, February 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)