FEU-DN Steel head coach Eddieson Orcullo is sticking to the same blueprint, one that has guided the Tamaraws to back-to-back V-League titles and secured them consecutive appearances in the country’s premier men’s volleyball league, the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
Last year, FEU’s V-League triumph earned them a respectable fourth-place finish in Spikers’ Turf. This year, after successfully defending their V-League crown, the Tamaraws returned to the national stage, once again facing some of the country’s most formidable squads in a tournament backed by Sports Vision and supported by Alpha Insurance, Premiere EMS, Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, and Arena Plus.
Though FEU fell short of a semifinal berth this time, Orcullo sees the campaign as a golden opportunity for growth and exposure against elite competition.
“Maganda ito kasi ‘yung sitwasyon ngayon, sa V-League at Spikers’ Turf diyan talaga ibabase ‘yung kung sino papasok sa 16 na lineup sa UAAP eh ang dami naming player kaya maganda ‘yung exposure na ito sa amin,” Orcullo said on Friday after FEU notched their second win over VNS at the Paco Arena.
“Maraming salamat sa management ng V-League at Spikers’ Turf nagkakaroon kami ng magandang healthy competition sa bawat players namin,” he added.
Orcullo employed a rotational strategy throughout the tournament, giving standout minutes to Christian Paul Salboro, Luis Miguel, Amet Bituin, and Charles Absin, alongside mainstays Dryx Saavedra, Lirick Mendoza, and Mikko Espartero.
One of the highlights of FEU’s campaign was their performance against the league’s top teams. The Tamaraws lost in straight sets to the powerhouse Cignal Super Spikers, though each set was closely contested, 24-26, 20-25, 22-25. Against Criss Cross, FEU pushed the champions to the limit in a thrilling five-set battle, 25-22, 21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 15-17.
“Siguro ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa amin ay ‘yung laro namin sa Criss Cross, yan ang magandang enlightenment sa amin. Dapat panghawakan namin ‘yun,” Orcullo said.
“‘Yung laro sa Cignal din, actually, hindi naman sa nagtataas ng sariling bangko pero kayang manalo sana kung pipilitin. Dapat hindi namin makalimutan ‘yung pain na nakuha namin para kahit papaano ‘yun ang baon baon namin para mamotivate kami everyday sa UAAP.”
FEU-DN Steel will aim to cap off their Spikers’ Turf campaign with a win against UST-Gameville on Sunday. Fans can catch the games live on One Sports and One Sports+, as well as on the Pilipinas Live app, which offers video-on-demand, and via spikersturf.ph.
