By Leiniel A. Santos

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Dryx Saavedra’s 16 points managed to defend the winning streak of the team against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 25-17, 17- 25, 28-26, 25-19, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament earlier today, April 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. 

“Gusto pa namin ilaban ‘to pag final four na, hinahangad kasi talaga namin na mapunta ng finals (We still want to fight for it when it's the final four, because we really want to go to the finals),” he said in a post-game conference.

As early as the 11 markers of the game, playmaker Ariel Cacao activated all of FEU’s starting hitters to dominate the set including a block of his own.

With the inclusion of Rey Sabanal, Jelord Talisayan, and Benny Martinez, the Tamaraws were able to raise the intensity and end the starting set courtesy of Matinez’s drop ball, 25-17.

However, despite dominating the first set, the Recto-based squad were able to reverse the tide and tie the match with one-set apiece.

During the third set, both teams wrestled to gain momentum with nine consecutive deadlocks.

As UE’s Tebs Aligayon came up swinging, the recto-based squad managed to gain a two-point lead.

Fortunately, FEU’s Dryx Saavedra performed a clutch play in the latter part to steal the set with six attacks, 28-26.

Saavedra continued his firepower to end the match as the red and white shirts collapsed with their seven errors in the last frame.

Saavedra added that they need to fix their problem with transitioning from set to set.

“Problema din namin ‘yung set by set, parang first set maganda ‘yung nilalaro ta’s second set naiiba nanaman. Siguro i-practice pa namin ‘yung attitude na ‘yung laban talaga every set (We have a problem with the set by set, it seems like the first set was played well, but the second set was different. Maybe we will practice the attitude that is the battle every set),” he added.

Andrei Delicana and Martin Bugaoan contributed big time in FEU’s net defense with five blocks each. While JayJay Javelona managed to support the scoring load with 11 points from 10 attacks and a block.

The Morayta-based squad remains the number one team with an 11-1 win-loss record and will try to remain undefeated in the second round of eliminations against the University of the Philippines on Saturday, April 20, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

(Photo by Gwyneth Mendoza/FEU Advocate)