Saavedra sparks FEU’s rally; Ateneo turns back EAC

Games Wednesday:

(Paco Arena)

10 a.m. — Perpetual vs FEU (w)

12 p.m. — UE vs Mapua (w)

2 p.m. — San Beda vs Ateneo (m)

4 p.m. — UST vs NU (m)

Dryx Saavedra punched in the hits that mattered most in the extended fifth set to carry Far Eastern University past De La Salle University, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 16-25, 17-15, and barge in the win column of the V-League Men's Collegiate Challenge yesterday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The lefty winger smashed the Tamaraws' last four hits including the game-winning backrow kill as FEU erased a four-point deficit late in the fifth set to shock the Green Spikers.

FEU bounced back from a straight sets defeat at the hands of idle defending champion National University last Wednesday and spoiled La Salle's attempt for a share of the lead in the process.

The Tamaraws and Green Spikers are now tied with 1-1 win-loss records.

"What happened in the game, I think, it's a test of character. It's a make-or-break match as you can see the match was really tight until the end," FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo said.

"But this kind of situation is really a test of character on how the players will handle things with pressure."

Saavedra fired 25 points – all off attacks – while Andrei Delicana had 12 kills, three kill blocks and an ace for FEU.

It was an ugly win for the Tamaraws after allowing the fourth set to slip off their hands when they gave away nine errors. FEU's miscues even helped the Green Spikers take a 13-9 fifth set advantage after committing four straight errors.

But the Tamaraws saw an opening to counter, scoring five straight points capped by Saavedra's hit that put FEU at matchpoint.

Vince Maglinao and Saavedra then traded kills in the next three plays for a 15-15 count.

Saavedra then gave FEU its last matchpoint advantage from a down-the-line kill before finishing off La Salle with a sharp hit that sliced through its rival's frozen defense.

"We just calmed ourselves in the fifth set and just relaxed. We talked about bringing back the same intensity we had in the third set and working on our lapses in the fifth," Saavedra said.

Jomel Codilla added nine and Martin Bugaoan finished with eight for the Tamaraws.

The Green Spikers fell short of replicating their opening day upset of University of Santo Tomas for their first taste of defeat.

Noel Kampton saw his 20-point outing come to naught for La Salle.

Maglinao had 17 markers while skipper JM Ronquillo and JJ Rodriguez got 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Green Spikers, who threw away 34 points off errors.

In the second game, Ateneo de Manila University clawed its way back from a set down to blast Emilio Aguinaldo College, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-16.