FAR Eastern University (FEU) returned to the Finals after dispatching Ateneo de Manila in five sets, 25-23, 20-25, 16-25, 25-17, 15-12, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball Final Four at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
The top seed and win-once-armed Tamaraws recovered from a 1-2 set disadvantage to turn back the No. 4 seed Blue Eagles, getting another shot at the title after a runner-up finish last year.Riding the momentum from a dominant fourth set, FEU continued its charge in the fifth frame as Dryx Saavedra scored four points to power a 5-1 start which turned to a 10-5 lead.Ateneo fought back and trimmed the lead to one, 12-13, after an Aimar Okeke down-the-line hit.Amet Bituin came through and saved FEU from total collapse, nailing back-to-back hits to seal the Finals berth for FEU, which faces the winner in the National University-University of Santo Tomas semis pairing.The six-peat seeking and win-once armed Bulldogs and the Golden Spikers were going at it at press time.“This is the UAAP, and wins don’t come on a silver platter. Hats off to the adjustments made by coach Vince [Mangulabnan], he’s really a respected coach,” said FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo.“Thank you to all the Ateneo players inside the court for giving us a good fight earlier. As for us, we will try to get better.”Bituin finished with 12 points and 11 excellent receptions while Saavedra added 14 points.Lirick Mendoza and Mikko Espartero chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.Ariel Cacao tossed 26 excellent sets for the Tamaraws.Foreign student-athlete Okeke finished with 24 points in a herculean effort, adding six receptions and five digs.Last year’s Most Valuable Player Kennedy Batas pumped 15 points and 15 excellent receptions, as Jian Salarazon added 12 points and 19 receptions.
