Games on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
12:30 p.m. – Awarding Ceremony (men’s)
1 p.m. – NU vs FEU (men’s finals)
4:30 p.m. – Awarding Ceremony (women’s)
5 p.m. – DLSU vs NU (women’s finals)
FAR Eastern University (FEU) handed four-peat champion National University (NU) its first finals defeat in almost a decade with a thrilling 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13 Game 1 victory to move a step away from ruling the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The top-ranked FEU Tamaraws clawed back from a 1-2 deficit capped by a steely resolve in the back-and-forth decider for a 1-0 lead in the quick best-of-three titular showdown entering a potential clincher on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
FEU hit two birds with one stone, putting an end to the NU Bulldogs’ unbeaten finals run since Season 79 (2017) and also zeroing in on winning its first title since Season 74 (2012).
And at the center of it was rising star Dryx Saavedra, who fired 25 points on 21 hits, three blocks and an ace as the Morayta-based squad proved its lofty billing as the biggest threat to NU’s long-standing dynasty.
Amet Bituin backstopped him with 16 points on 13 hits and three blocks, none bigger than the thunderous hit that went through NU defenders in the tightrope fifth set to dodge a deuce and seal the gutsy victory.
Ariel Cacao facilitated the Tamaraws’ charge that included 10 points from Mikko Espartero with 24 sets while libero Vennie Paul Ceballos provided 14 digs and 20 receptions.
FEU indeed showed that thirst and hunger even at the jaws of defeat after being manhandled by NU in the third set, 13-25, for a 1-2 deficit.
With revenge in mind as well after being denied by the Bulldogs an outright finals berth with their lone loss in the elims for a 13-1 slate, the Tamaraws braved on by grinding out the fourth and escaping by the slimmest of margins in the rubber.
Looming like a mano-a-mano with equal bearings in the decider, FEU just leaned on perfection and execution with little to no mistake from as NU, on a rare occasion, became a stark contrast with three straight errors for a sudden 10-13 deficit.
The Bulldogs, as expected, managed to right the ship to move within 12-13 only for Buds Buddin to commit a service error once again that set the stage for Mr. Bituin’s finishing touch.
Leo Ordiales (23), Jade Disquitado (17) and Mr. Buddin (12) led the way but the Bulldogs still stumbled for the first time under Dante Alinsunurin to stare at a potential fall of their kingdom. — John Bryan Ulanday
