Tamaraws draw first blood vs Bulldogs

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MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University took Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament after a five-set win over the five-peat seeking National University Bulldogs, 22-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 15-13, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

This is the first loss of NU in the UAAP Finals since Season 79, when they were swept by Ateneo.

Dryx Saavedra powered the Tamaraws with 25 points on 21 attacks, three blocks and a service ace. Amet Bituin added 16 markers.

After a tough third set loss where they were kept to just 13 points, FEU forced the deciding fifth set, surviving a scare from NU.

The Tamaraws led by four, 24-20, but back-to-back points by the Bulldogs kept them alive.

However, a service error by NU’s Leo Ordiales sealed the fourth frame and brought the match to the fifth set.

There, Tamaraws had little separation late, going up 11-9 after a Dryx Saavedra point.

A Bulldog point cut the deficit to just one, 10-11, but a service error by Jeffe Gallego Jr. followed by a block on Buddin pushed FEU’s lead to three, 13-10.

Back-to-back points courtesy of a Buddin kill and a drop ball by Greg Ancheta kept NU within one, 12-13, before a service error by Buddin pushed the Tamaraws to the match point, 14-12.

Jade Disquitado powered in an off-the-block point to keep the Bulldogs alive, but an off-the-block point by Bituin ended the match.

Mikko Espartero chipped in 10 points for FEU while Ariel Cacao tossed up 24 excellent sets.

Ordiales punched in 23 markers for NU, with Disquitado backstopping with 17. Buddin had 12 for the defending champions, with Ancheta tossing up 21 excellent sets.

The Tamaraws will try to close the series up and bag their 26th championship in Game 2 on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.