The Far Eastern University Tamaraws drew first blood against the defending champions National University Bulldogs, 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13, in Game One of their best-of-three finals series in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament.
With the win, the Tamaraws are one game away from bringing back the crown to Morayta, which they last won in Season 74 in 2012.
Game 2 of the finals between the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and the National University Bulldogs will be on Wednesday, May 14, 1 pm at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here’s everything you missed at Game One of the UAAP Season 97 Men’s Volleyball Tournament finals.
25
Zhydryx Saavedra scored 25 points in 21 attacks, three blocks, and an ace with six excellent digs in their Game One victory against the National University Bulldogs.
Setter Ariel Cacao dished out 24 excellent sets as he orchestrated the offense of the Tamaraws, which led to 53 attack points. The Morayta-based squad also delivered at the net, recording 11 kill blocks.
After the game, Tamaraws head coach Eddieson Orcullo said that their in-game adjustment proved to be the difference in the game, especially after losing the third set, 13-25. He said after the game, “Adjustments siguro, ‘yun ang pinakatingin kong meron kami doon sa situation kanina. ‘Yung fifth set talagang less errors siguro, talagang dapat male-less mo ‘yung errors or kung kayang wala siguro mas maganda.”
He added, “Gutom kami. ‘Yung gutom kasi minsan ang daming nagagawang alam mo ‘yung preparation kung paano mo gagawin, kung talagang gusto mo ‘yung isang bagay. ‘Yun nga ang usapan namin na pilitin nating kunin kasi prepared naman tayo sa lahat ng mangyayari.”
Helping Saavedra inside the court was rookie Amet Bituin, who scored 16 points in 13 attacks and three blocks with four excellent digs and three excellent receptions. Mikko Espartero added 10 points with 26 excellent receives and three excellent digs.
Despite playing in front of thousands of fans in the finals, Bituin made sure to turn pressure into diamonds as he got his energy from the crowd.
He said, “Unang-una po, nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord kasi ‘yun nga pina-ano niya para mangyari sa amin ‘yun. Ang sa akin po kasi kanina, kinommit ko lang talaga ‘yung sarili ko sa team. Sabi ko, lahat ng ibibigay sa akin, kailangan pusuan ko kasi ‘yun po ‘yung [sinabi] namin ilang days e, kailangan lahat ng gagawin namin, isapuso mo.”
He added, “Sa akin po kanina, nung nakita ko ‘yung crowd and ‘yung sigaw nila, nakaka-overwhelm at nakakadagdag ng boost sa amin. Tuwing nagpapalit kami ng court, ‘yung cheer ng crowd, ‘yung kung gaano nila kami suportahan – sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam. Sobrang sarap maglaro kanina sa court kasi alam mong sobrang daming sumusuporta sa’yo.”
52
The trio of Leo Ordiales, Jade Disquitado, and Buds Buddin combined for 52 points in a losing effort as they bowed down to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
Ordiales delivered 23 points in 22 attacks and a block, while Disquitado contributed 17 points in 13 attacks and four blocks with 17 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs. Buddin, who only played in four sets, added 12 points with five excellent digs and three excellent receptions.
In the fifth set, the Tamaraws were holding to a hairline advantage, 11-10, before Bulldogs head coach Dante Alinsunurin subbed out Ordiales and main setter Greg Ancheta for sophomore hitter Jan Abanilla and rookie setter Jeffe Gallego.
Unfortunately for them, the gamble was unsuccessful as both Abanilla and Gallego committed back-to-back errors, which gave the Tamaraws a three-point lead, 13-10.
After the game, Alinsunurin owned the decision that led to their first loss in the finals since Season 79. He was quoted by Tiebreaker Times, “Sabi ko sa coaching staff ko, based doon sa nagiging sitwasyon namin sa mga sets na natalo kami, sa second at sa fourth, doon talaga sila nagdo-dominate. Kaya sabi ko, kailangan ko magpalit para makita ko ‘yung capabilities nila, kasi nung second set, kahit papaano, naka-score at nakahabol kami dahil sa double substitution na ‘yun.”
He continued, “Ginamble ko ‘yun kasi sabi ko nga, every time na meron kaming sitwasyon, kailangan talaga namin makita kung paano kami mag-i-improve pa.
At the end of the game, Alinsunurin lamented his team’s 34 unforced errors. He added, “Hindi naman ‘yun ‘yung naging turning point para sa amin. Talagang more on sarili namin ‘yung nagdikta ng laro, e, tulad nung second set sa mga unforced errors namin na we were dominating the game, pero ito na ‘yung mga unforced errors sa serve namin. Sa halip na may chance kami na manalo or makapuntos, e, nawawala sa amin dahil sa mga ganon na sitwasyon na nawawala ‘yung momentum para sa amin.”
For Ordiales, the Bulldogs lost their swag inside the court that led to their loss. He said, “Malaking tulong ‘yung mga angasan sa court para hindi boring ang game at ma-excite ‘yung mga tao para mas abangan nila sa mga susunod na laro.”
He ended, Siguro ‘wag lang namin i-take as negative ‘yung mga swag – challenge lang din ‘yun, since magkakaibigan naman kaming lahat d’yan, e. Pamgpa-hype lang talaga, pampa-intense lang ng laro.”
