The FEU Tamaraws aren’t about to get ahead of themselves even after a 7-0 sweep in the first round of UAAP Season 87.
The FEU Tamaraws have learned their lesson after the heartbreak of UAAP Season 86, where they failed to make it to the finals despite being the first seed at the end of eliminations.
That is, despite winning all of their matches in the first round, the Tamaraws remain wary of every challenge that comes their way.
“'Yun ang pinakamahirap. Kasi sa kwentuhan, 'yung sasabihin na wala kang talo. Pero lagi natin sinasabi, hindi naman 'yung panalo 'yung tinitignan sa dulo eh, kung sino pa rin yung aabot dun sa finals. Ngayon okay ka, pero sa mga susunod na araw, baka kung ano mangyari satin,” said FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo.
“So siguro, ano lang, wag nating kalimutan, nage-enjoy tayo sa ginagawa nating trabaho. So dapat 'yung ginagawa namin everyday, maging isang malaking hamon para mapaghawakan namin para sa mga susunod na future games namin.”
FEU achieved their first round sweep for the first time since 2019 when they drubbed the DLSU Green Spikers in four sets, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19, in their last game of the first half of the season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
At the top of their game, FEU flexed hard with their offensive firepower.
Three different players finished in double-digit scoring, led by Mikko Espartero’s 27 points which was backstopped by Dryx Saavedra, who finished with 17 markers.
After the game, Saavedra said that the Tamaraws continue to remember what it felt like to lose their first-seed status last season.
Even for the players who weren’t there last year, the rookies, they understood that it was something that they wouldn’t want to happen anymore. Midway through the tournament, Saavedra said there is no such thing as being too careful about their games.
“Naging motivation yun ng team eh [yung pagkatalo namin last year]. Kahit mga first year namin, talagang napaguusapan pa. And alam din namin na ramdam din nila kung gano kabigat yung pakiramdam namin dati,” said Saavedra.
“So 'yun nga, naging motivation samin and 'yun talaga 'yung iniisip namin--na hindi dapat ulit mangyari so, talagang pinagta-trabahuhan ng team talaga. Kahit sa ensayo, napapaaga kami kasi kailangan talaga mag-extra. 'Yun nga, naging motivation 'yun samin. 'Wag mag-relax and sa session namin about mental, talagang wag lang magsawa.”
As they enter the second round, the FEU Tamaraws will be hard-pressed to continue their winning ways and hopefully gain entry into championship contention for their first men’s volleyball title since UAAP Season 74.