Far Eastern University survived the first match that went the distance in the week-long V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge marked by straight-set romps, repelling De La Salle U, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 16-25, 17-15, on Sunday at the Paco Arena.
The Tams overcame huge deficits to upend the Green Spikers, including a 9-13 hole in the decider as Dryx Saavedra stepped up to anchor the team’s stirring 8-2 closing run capped by back-to-back kills that ended that tense-filled two-hour, 24-minute match.
Saavedra wound up with 25 points, all from spikes, as the Tams rebounded from a shutout loss to the fancied National U Bulldogs in the opener last Wednesday for a 1-1 slate.
“Yung nangyari sa game is make-or-break din kasi balikatan ‘yung laban. Sa mga ganyan din, test of character din ng players kung paano mag-handle ng pressure,” said newly-installed head coach Ed Orcullo.
Andrei Delicana added 16 points on 12 spikes, three blocks and an ace, while Jomel Codilla finished with nine markers for FEU.
Noel Kampton paced De La Salle with 20 points on 18 kills and two aces while Vince Maglinao produced 17 points, 15 of which came from attacks.