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