FEU dethrones La Salle to clinch V-League men’s crown

FEU Tamaraws in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge championship game against La Salle Green Spikers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University dethroned La Salle to earn its maiden V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge crown with a 25-22, 28-26, 25-18 sweep of the winner-take-all Game 3 on Friday evening at Philsports Arena.

After surviving a tight first set, the Tamaraws gained momentum for good after fighting back from a 20-24 deficit and saving four match points to tie the frame.

Dryx Saavedra nailed a crosscourt hit to help FEU reach match point, 27-26, before Charles Absin nailed the set-clinching block to take a two-set advantage.

READ: FEU secures top seed in UAAP men’s volleyball

Saavedra sustained his solid form in the third, helping the Tamaraws pull away with a 15-9 spread.

Mikko Espartero put on the finishing touches, scoring the last three points including the championship-sealing ace.

Saavedra emerged as the Finals MVP with a game-high 24 points on top of six digs.

“Umpisa pa lang pinipilit ko ilabas yung eagerness ko. Maging allout yung laro. Naiba lang nung Game 2 kasi nasobrahan kami sa mindset na dapat makuha namin sa Game 2 kaya nag iba yung kalabasan,” said Saavedra, who drilled 23 of his 37 attack attempts. “Ngayon, lahat kalma lang, sobrang effective siya. Kahit ano mangyari sa laro kinalma ko lang sarili ko kung anong kailangan ng team ko yun yung binigay ko. Thankful ako dahil madami kaming natutunan at nakapag adjust kami.”

V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge Finals MVP Dryx Saavedra of FEU Tamaraws. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Absin was also instrumental for FEU with 12 points including three blocks. Lirick Mendoza had 10 points, while skipper Jelord Talisayan had eight points, 13 receptions, and six digs.

Setter Benny Martinez made 19 excellent sets, while Espartero added six points. 

“Yung La Salle sobrang decorated ng players ng La Ssalle, andoon din yung mga kaibigan namin. Hindi kami nagrelax sa kanila kasi alam namin na may potential din sila. Competitive yung finals ngayon kaya pinanghawakan namin yung purpose namin,” said Talisayan.

READ: FEU lone unbeaten team in UAAP men’s volleyball

FEU and La Salle split the first two games with four-set wins each but the Morayta-based team proved to want it more in the do-or-die game of the preseason championship organized by Sports Vision.

“Yung nangyari kasi nung Game 2 real talk yung nangyari sa dugout namin na siyempre walang lumabas na nakangiti at nakayuko. Minsan masarap din matalo kasi nakikita mo kung paano yung totoong taong kasama mo. Kasi hindi mo naman makikita yung totoong tagumpay kapag lagi kang panalo, minsan sinusubok din ng pagkakataon kung paano ako humawak ng team at kung paano sila magreact sa situation,” said FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo.

“Ngayon masasabi kong sweet victory kasi nakikilala pa namin lalo yung bawat isa.”

The FEU faithful will not come home empty-handed as the men’s volleyball team gave them a championship celebration moments after the Lady Tamaraws fell to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses in the Finals Game 3 of women’s division.

Glen Rui Ventura was the lone bright spot for La Salle with 16 points, as go-to scorer Cris Hernandez was limited to seven points on a 6-of-23 spiking clip.

Both team are also qualified to play in the Spikers’ Turf Invitationals this month, playing the top club teams including champion Cignal and runner-up Criss Cross.