FEU’s last UAAP men’s volleyball crown came in 2012, when the Tamaraws denied a UST squad chasing a fifth-straight title. Sounds familiar, right?
Back in 2012, FEU wrote the perfect plot twist in UAAP men’s volleyball history—ending the UST Golden Spikers’ five-peat quest.
Fast forward to 2025, the Tamaraws are on the verge of doing it all over again but this time against the most successful collegiate men’s volleyball program in the last decade.
FEU finds themselves in a familiar spot heading into a winner-take-all Game 3 against the four-time defending champion NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Finals, Saturday, May 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Match time is at 2:00 p.m.
The Tamaraws couldn’t get the job done after a heartbreaking five-set loss to the Bulldogs in Game 2.
[ALSO READ: NU displays champion heart as Bulldogs force Game 3 vs FEU in UAAP Season 87 Finals]
Despite leading 8-5 in the deciding frame, FEU faltered late and was unable to follow the winning script in Game 1 where they rallied from a 2-1 set deficit for a comment-from-behind effort.
Dryx Saavedra led the charge with 24 points in the loss, but support was lacking as Amet Bituin was the Tamaraws’ next highest scorer with just 10 markers.
Game 3 will be FEU’s first since that 2013 finale — ironically, a loss to NU.
Now, the Tamaraws have a shot at ending a 12-year title drought, grabbing a 26th UAAP crown, and once again playing spoiler to a dynasty looking to cement its legacy.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
—
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]