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Dryx Saavedra during FEU’s five-set win over UP in UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball.–UAAP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Dryx Saavedra took matters into his own hands and saved Far Eastern University from a meltdown at the hands of gritty University of the Philippines with a Final Four-clinching 25-19, 25-21, 20-25, 29-31, 15-12 win in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Absorbing their first defeat of the season to defending champion National University in five sets a week ago, the Tamaraws blew a two-set advantage and went down 10-12 in the fifth set.
Ariel Cacao activated his middle blockers Charles Absin and Lirick Mendoza to tie the game before Saavedra nailed an off-the-block hit for a 13-12 lead. Mikko Espartero delivered in the clutch, scoring a kill from a broken play and sealing the win with a block to make the FEU the first team to enter the Final Four this season with a 10-1 record. Saavedra had an efficient 29-point game, hitting 28 of his 44 attack attempts and tallying an ace to give the Tamaraws their sixth consecutive Final Four appearance dating back to Season 79.
“What coach told us is that even if the game hasn’t started yet, you should already be ready for whatever may happen. That’s really what I always keep in mind. Earlier, we experienced being the ones chasing the game, but thankfully, we were able to apply the maturity we’ve been talking about,” said Saavedra in Filipino.
Espartero finished with 16 points on 12 attacks, three blocks, and one ace with six excellent digs and six excellent receptions. Mendoza and Doula Ndongala chipped in 15 points each, while captain Jelord Talisayan added five points and 10 excellent receptions. Cacao provided 25 excellent sets and an ace, while rookie libero Vennie Ceballos had 29 excellent receptions and six excellent digs.
“The team’s connection was great [in the fifth set]. The best part of what happened to us is that we were ready for whatever situation came, and the love for each other was there,” said FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo, who is eyeing the twice-to-beat bonus in their last three elimination round games. UP bombed out of the Final Four race with a 3-8 record, joining cellar dwellers Adamson and University of the East.
Olayemi Raheem lifted the Fighting Maroons with 25 points on 23 attacks. Tommy Castrodes had 17 points, 19 excellent receptions, and seven excellent digs, while Angelo Lipata added 11 points and 17 receptions. Meanwhile, defending champion NU dominated the also-ran Adamson, 25-17, 25-16, 25-15, to secure at least a playoff for a Final Four slot with its third straight win for a 9-2 record.
Buds Buddin formed a potent troika with Leo Aringo and Leo Ordiales as he dropped 16 points from a 15-of-24 spiking clip. Aringo had 12 points, 12 excellent receptions, and five digs. Ordiales chipped in 11 points, while Obed Mukaba was also instrumental with nine points off 5-of-6 attacking clip to go with two blocks, and two aces.
“This is probably the situation we’ve been waiting for, where our side-out percentage improved because our passing has really been a problem from the start. Thankfully, our passing improved earlier, so we were able to execute what we wanted to do on the court,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Adamson dropped to a 2-9 card in seventh place with no one scoring in double figures as leading scorer Jude Aguilar being limited to three points. Joel Menor led the Falcons with seven points.
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