It all came down to will and determination for the FEU Tamaraws as they strike first in the UAAP Season 87 Finals against the NU Bulldogs.
The FEU Tamaraws relied on their hunger to win the UAAP title the first time since Season 74 as they downed the five-peat seeking NU Bulldogs in five sets, 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13, in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
The Tamaraws, seeded first in the tournament, handed the Bulldogs their first loss in the championship round since UAAP Season 79 — snapping an 8-game Finals winning streak for the Bulldogs.
Despite falling behind by a set not once but twice in Game 1, the Tamaraws dug deep thanks to the heroics of veteran hitter Dryx Saavedra and a surprise superstar in rookie Amet Bituin, as the Tamaraws frustrated the Bulldogs for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three.
[READ: FEU rallies past NU to take Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men's volleyball Finals]
In set 5, FEU went toe-to-toe with the four-time defending champions, seizing a 13-10 lead. But as NU threatened to extend the fifth set decider after a Jade Disquitado point, 14-13, Bituin provided the finishing blow for the Tamaraws, now on the cusp of UAAP glory.
After the match, FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo said that the difference maker was how his players wanted it more.
“Gutom kami kasi kaya siguro ganon yung [laro namin]. Yung gutom kasi, minsan ang daming nagagawang alam mo yun preparation kung pano mo gagawin yung bagay, kung talagang gusto mong kunin yung isang bagay,” said Orcullo, who has the chance to lead FEU to the summit in just his second year as head coach.
“Yun nga pinaguusapan namin ng boys na even the coaches na, pilitin natin kunin kasi nag-prepare naman tayo eh. Prepared naman yung team sa lahat ng mangyayari. So siguro, yun nga, yung pagkagutom namin sa Finals kailangan.”
The biggest contributors to that hunger is the young Bituin, stepping up to the plate at the most crucial time despite being a rookie.
In his first Finals game, Bituin finished with 16 points to go along with four excellent digs and three excellent receptions. He was the team’s second leading scorer behind Saavedra, who dropped 25 points.
For the youngster, it was mission accomplished after being able to give his best for the team in Game 1.
With all at stake in the championship, there wasn’t any room to hesitate.
“Sakin sobrang saya ko kasi yun yung nadadala kong enjoyment sa loob ng court, nagre-resulta naman. Kaya sabi ko kanina talaga all out na. Wala nang tira. Ubos kung ubos,” said Bituin.
“Kaya ayun, kahit medyo masakit yung lalamunan ko the past few days, sigaw parin ako ng sigaw kasi ayaw ko magtira sa sarili ko, and ayokong may pagsisihan ako sa dulo,” he continued.
Bituin and the rest of the Tamaraws go for the jugular when they face NU again in Game 2 on Wednesday, May 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.