The UAAP Season 88 volleyball tournament may still be months away, but Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Dryx Saavedra is already fired up to make a stronger comeback after their recent heartbreak in the Finals.
Saavedra delivered a valiant effort for the Tamaraws in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball championship series but fell short against the seasoned National University (NU) Bulldogs, who swept the match 25-16, 28-26, 25-23 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. The game also set a new record for the highest attendance in UAAP men’s volleyball history with 14,517 fans present.
Despite Saavedra’s explosive 24-point performance — nearly doubling NU’s top scorer Leo Ordiales’ 13 — the Tamaraws failed to get over the hump as they struggled with support from the rest of the squad. No other FEU player scored in double digits.
Still, Saavedra remained grateful for the experience, especially with the team mostly composed of rookies.
“Unang-una, sobrang proud sa lahat na part ng team. Malaking bagay talaga ‘tong finals sa ‘min kasi halos kalahati puro rookies eh. So good thing na maaga pa lang may experience na agad sa ganung laruan,” said Saavedra. “Pahinga, tapos trabaho ulit.”
He acknowledged that the intensity and pressure of playing in the Finals is something entirely different from the eliminations — and he now knows how to mentally and physically prepare.
“Sa ‘kin, parang alam ko na na next season, ready na ako agad sa ganitong situation ng game na Finals,” he said. “Ganito pala talaga. Sobrang iba sa elimination. So talagang makakatulong talaga ‘to sa ‘kin na i-ready ko ‘yung sarili ko pag dadating ulit sa point na lalaban ulit kami ng Finals.”
With a full offseason ahead, Saavedra is determined to lead the charge for FEU as they look to build on this year’s runner-up finish and come back hungrier in Season 88.
