FEU Tamaraws huddle throughout Sport 3 of the UAAP Season 87 males’s volleyball Finals towards NU Bulldogs.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines — Nearly however not fairly because the twenty sixth championship remained elusive for Far Jap College because it did not topple Nationwide College’s dynasty in a record-breaking UAAP Season 87 males’s volleyball Finals collection.
After stealing Sport 1, FEU was seven factors away from ending a 13-year title drought in Sport 2 final Wednesday, taking an 8-5 lead within the fifth set. Nonetheless, their errors and the composure of NU pushed the collection to a winner-take-all.
READ: UAAP Finals: NU Bulldogs fulfill ‘five-peat’ dream, overcome FEU
FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo, Mikko Espartero and Dryx Saavedra after shedding the championship. # Uaapseeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tgcGdzjhED
– Lance Agcaoili (@lanceagcaoilinq) Could 17, 2025
In Sport 3, the Tamaraws have been outlasted by the Bulldogs, absorbing a 16-25, 26-28, 23-25 defeat earlier than a record-setting 14,517 crowd on Saturday at Mall of Asia Area.
After getting dominated within the opening set, the Tams have been a degree away from equalizing Sport 3 with a number of set-point benefits within the second set solely to falter ultimately. FEU additionally allowed NU to drag off one other rally within the third to seal the five-peat.
Of their greatest season, FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo stated the setback means they should work tougher for them to succeed in the gold commonplace of males’s volleyball over the previous decade.
“Effectively, that’s the way it goes generally. If you happen to don’t get what you need, like we stated earlier than perhaps subsequent time we simply have to double our effort,” stated Orcullo in Filipino. “We coaches will regroup with the gamers and give you new plans. We’ll see what occurs within the subsequent few months as we put together for the following season.”
Dryx Saavedra, who averaged 24.3 factors within the collection, admitted their gradual begin took a toll on them in Sport 3 as they bought swept after a pair of thrilling five-setters.
READ: UAAP: FEU’s Mikko Espartero holds head excessive after finals loss, backlash
“We weren’t actually shocked, however I feel one among our weaknesses was that we weren’t aggressive sufficient from the beginning,” stated Saavedra, who scored 24 factors.
“When the opponent will get forward early, it’s actually arduous to catch up. Although we managed to shut the hole at instances, we nonetheless fell brief. In order that’s one thing we have to repair: don’t let the rating slip too far early on.”
It was powerful to squander a chance to deliver again the long-lost glory of FEU, however Saavedra remained gracious in defeat, charging this heartbreak to expertise to arrange himself for subsequent season, in case he decides to play another yr.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“This complete expertise is actually useful. Now I do know what it’s wish to be within the Finals, it’s so totally different from the elimination spherical. This may assist me quite a bit. Subsequent season, I’ll be extra ready mentally and bodily after we attain this stage once more,” stated Saavedra, who will take his time earlier than deciding on what’s subsequent for him.
“I’m tremendous pleased with everybody on the crew. This finals look actually meant quite a bit to us as a result of greater than half of our crew are rookies. So it’s factor that we bought this sort of expertise early. Now it’s time to relaxation, then get again to work.”
