By Leiniel A. Santos

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws Head Coach Eddieson Orcullo mentioned that the game served as a wake-up call as they lost against the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 22-25, 21-25, 20-25, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament earlier today, April 24, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. 

“Wake-up call talaga na kailangan mas malinis ‘yung galaw natin kasi tulad ng nangyari ngayon, ang daming lapses sa blocking, lalo na sa attacking side. Nagamot ‘yung receive, siguro yung ibabaw naman ‘yung kailangan linisin (It's really a wake-up call that our movements need to be cleaner because like what happened today, there are lapses in blocking, especially on the attacking side. The receiver has been treated, maybe the surface needs to be cleaned),” he said in an interview with FEU Advocate.

The green-and-gold squad started the match struggling on the offensive end, trailing as much as five points as the Bulldogs showed dominance led by Joshua Retamar’s play making, 3-8.

Despite FEU’s Lirick Mendoza’s two consecutive blocks to force a deadlock and seize the momentum, the Morayta-based squad still fell to NU in the opening set.

With the unstoppable firepower of the Sampaloc-based squad in the second set led by NU’s Michaelo Buddin’s eight points, the Tamaraws still fell short despite an early catch-up.

Unfortunately, the Tamaraws collapsed as the Buddin, Leo Aringo and Angelo Almendras trio continued to light up the scoreboard after the 16-point deadlock in the third set.

Coach Orcullo also said that aside from skills, the team needs to focus on character building.

“Bukod do’n sa skills, kailangan makapag-focus din sa mind-setting. Laging player ang pinag-uusapan natin eh, it’s build character eh, kung paano ka bumangon, kung paano mo i-handle ‘yung situation pag ganito ‘yung nangyayari (Apart from skills, we need to be able to focus on mind-setting. We're always talking about the player, it's character building, how do you get up, how do you handle the situation when something like this happens),” he added.

JayJay Javelona’s 13 points from 11 attacks and two blocks was not enough to at least steal a set against the Bulldogs.

Despite the loss, the Orcullo-led squad concluded the elimination round still at the top of the standings with a 12-2 win-loss record.

(Photo by Gwyneth Mendoza/FEU Advocate)