By Angel Joyce C. Basa

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws suffered their first loss of the season against the National University (NU) Bulldogs in extended sets, 26-28, 25-17, 26-24, 11-25, 8-15, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s volleyball tourney today, March 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Morayta-based team had a strong start at the beginning of the first set, building an early six-point lead ahead of the Bulldogs, 11-5.

Halfway through the frame, FEU lost momentum as NU caught up in the offensive playmaking to put the game on a deadlock until the set concluded at 26-28.

In the second set, the Tamaraws encountered the same struggle with a back-and-forth deuce between the blue-and-gold team.

But with the help of outside spiker Mikko Espartero’s seven consecutive points, the green-and-gold squad obtained the set advantage with an eight-point difference, 25-17.

The Ariel Cacao-led squad once again gained control of the third set even with Jhocson-based Leo Ordiales and Michaelo Buddin inching close to FEU’s point performance, 26-24.

Despite the Tamaraws’ determination to take another set, they just could not outlast the Bulldogs, leading to a 14-point deficit, 11-25.

The fifth set was a make-or-break moment for FEU, striving to catch up with the blue-and-gold squad’s performance up until the halfway mark, 7-6.

However, the Tamaraws could not match NU’s frontline defense, dealing themselves their first setback, 8-15.

Regardless of the outcome, the Morayta-based squad played with all their might with double-double performances from Espartero with 21 excellent receptions and 22 markers built on 18 attacks and four blocks, and libero Vennie Ceballos with 12 digs and 14 receptions.

Team captain Cacao also produced 18 excellent sets and a block, while standout senior Dryx Saavedra recorded 18 points from 17 attacks and an ace.

During the postgame conference, Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin commended the green-and-gold team’s efforts in the extended game.

“Good game talaga. Both sides naman sobrang ganda ng [laro na] pinakita (It really was a good game. Both sides showed a really good game),” he said.

Now with a single loss, the Tamaraws still remain in the lead with an 8-1 win-loss record as they anticipate to bounce back against University of Santo Tomas (UST) next Sunday, March 29, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

(Photo courtesy of the UAAP Media Team)