Top-ranked Far Eastern University refused to let history repeat itself, not even needing its twice-to-beat advantage this time.
Ousted in the Final Four last year despite being the first seed, the Tamaraws exorcised that ghost by booting out the De La Salle Green Spikers in just one game, regrouping after a first set hiccup, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20, to advance to the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Finals on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
FEU, which will be making its first Finals appearance since Season 81, will be waiting for the winner between National University and University of Santo Tomas after the Golden Spikers forced a sudden death against the Bulldogs with a four-set win in the first match.
“Masaya sobra kasi nakuha namin yung isang slot para sa Finals yun ang pinakaimportante sa lahat. Yung kasiyahan, alam mo yung kailangan balansehin mo maigi kasi hindi pa tapos, may game pa tayo kaya bukas o siguro mamaya pa lang paghandaan na namin yung gagawin doon sa dalawang team kung sino man aakyat sa kanila,” said FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo, who burst into the media room with uncontainable energy, still riding the high of their win.
(“We’re extremely happy because we secured a spot in the Finals—that’s the most important thing. But this joy, you know, you have to balance it carefully because it’s not over yet. We still have a game to play. So, whether it’s tomorrow or even later today, we’ll start preparing for whoever advances between the two teams.”)
Knotted at one set apiece, the Green Spikers sought to regain the advantage by opening up a 13-9 lead in the third, but the Tamaraws did not allow it.
Through Dryx Saavedra, Mikko Espartero, and Doula Ndongala, FEU turned the story around with a 10-3 counter to take the 19-16 lead en route to the 25-19 set victory that moved them one stanza away from the championship series.
Then the Tamaraws took the first Finals ticket with a strong finishing kick in the fourth, turning a 17-all deadlock into a 25-20 clincher as Saavedra, Espartero, and Lirick Mendoza connived while the Green Spikers also added to their own woes with three errors in that span.
FEU is aiming for a record 26th championship, but the first since Season 74 (2012).
“I am very emotional for this game because FEU did not qualify for the Finals for a long time, today we finally did,” said Congolese middle blocker Ndongala, who put in a career-best performance of 17 points on 12 spikes, four blocks, and an ace.
Ariel Cacao dished out 31 excellent sets to display FEU’s balanced offense, as Espartero also ended up with 17 points to go with 15 excellent receptions.
Mendoza chipped in 14 points on nine attacks and five blocks, while Saavedra and Amet Bituin had 11 points each in the win in one hour and 54 minutes.
The Green Spikers finished in fourth place for the third consecutive season.
Noel Kampton, Vince Maglinao, Menard Guerrero, Gene Poquita, and Nathaniel Del Pilar played their final game in La Salle uniform.
Kampton led the Green Spikers for the final time with 19 points and 19 excellent receptions, while Rui Ventura added 17 points.
(Official release from the UAAP)