FEU with quick mastery over Adamson in men's volleyball

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament Team Standings

Team W-L

*FEU           12    1
*NU              10    2
UST             8    4
DLSU          7    4
Ateneo        6    6
UP               3    8
AdU            2     10
UE               0    13

*Final Four

Games on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

9 a.m. – NU vs Ateneo (Men)
11 a.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men)
1 p.m. – NU vs Ateneo (Women)
3 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Women)

Far Eastern University moved on the verge of securing the top seed in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Final Four with a swift 25-16, 25-16, 25-22 triumph over also-ran Adamson University, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

With their third consecutive victory, the Tamaraws not only solidified their hold on the top seed with a 12-1 record but are also one win away from achieving their best preliminaries slate in 14 years since ending Season 73 with a 13-1 slate last 2011.

Standing in FEU’s way of the top ranking and the historic feat is De La Salle University come Saturday, April 26, at the same Cubao dome to close its Season 87 preliminaries campaign.

“Yung players kasi na 14 na nasa roster namin, hindi pwede magrelax lang na nagccheer ka lang doon sa anim sa loob, dapat maseize rin nila yung moment na makuha nila yung chance na mashowcase yung sarili nila. Kaya every time na ginagamit at pinapasok sila, dapat all out yung bigay nila sa match,” Tamaraws head coach Eddieson Orcullo said.

("The 14 players on our roster can't just relax and cheer for the six who are on the court—they should also seize the moment and take the chance to showcase themselves. That's why every time they’re fielded in, they need to give their all in the match.”)

In the third set, the Soaring Falcons rallied from an early four-point deficit as a block by Marc Paulino and an attack error from Lirick Mendoza propelled Adamson to a slim 19-18 lead.

A back-and-forth affair saw the third frame locked at 21-all, but two costly errors from Paulino, a block by Amet Bituin on Paulino, and a game-sealing quick hit by Mendoza to clinch the Tamaraws’ sixth straight win over the Soaring Falcons since Season 85 in 82 minutes.

A quick hit by Leo Coguimbal allowed Adamson to stay within reach of a second set triumph at 16-12, but FEU surged at the right time with a telling 6-0 run -- capped with a Dryx Saavedra ace, a block by Mikko Espartero, a quick hit from Mendoza, and an attack error from Jude Aguilar -- to gain a 10-point, 22-12 cushion en route to mounting a 2-0 set lead.

Saavedra fueled the Tamaraws with 13 points on 10 attacks, while Bituin shined in his second consecutive start with 13 points on nine attacks with seven excellent receptions.

Espartero provided nine points on seven attacks with six excellent receptions, while Congolese middle blocker Doula Ndongala added seven points on four attacks and three blocks.

Third-year setter Ariel Cacao tossed 20 excellent vets, while rookie libero Vennie Ceballos manned FEU’s defense with 13 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs.

On the other hand, the Soaring Falcons suffered their fourth consecutive defeat to fall to a 2-10 card with two games remaining in the preliminaries against the Green Spikers and the also-ran UP Fighting Maroons, respectively.

No player from Adamson reached double digits as Lourenz Domingo and Paulino each chipped in six points in the losing effort. Meanwhile, top spiker Jude Aguilar was limited to four points on 4-of-19 attack efficiency.

Adamson will return from the league’s eight-day Holy Week break with a clash against La Salle on Wednesday, April 23, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.