FEU-DN Steel ended its three-game slide with a dominant 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 victory over VNS on Friday, November 14, at the Paco Arena in Manila. The Tamaraws, out of semifinals contention, displayed pride and resolve in front of a home crowd. Dryx Saavedra led the charge with 13 points, including 10 spikes, two aces, and a block, while Lirick Mendoza added 10 points from eight attacks and two blocks.

Charles Absin made a major impact at the net, recording six blocks in the second set as FEU-DN Steel overturned a 16-19 deficit. He finished with eight points, helping the Tamaraws improve to 2-4 in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.

Tamaraws showcase teamwork and resilience

Head coach Eddieson Orcullo praised the mental fortitude of his squad despite their early exit. “Itong game na ito, it’s a matter of mind setting talaga. Pero kung nasaan man kami ngayon, alam ko magiging maayos ‘yung galaw ng team towards sa UAAP,” he said.

Amet Bituin contributed seven points, and Mikko Espartero added six markers along with 13 excellent receptions during the 67-minute match. Orcullo highlighted their near-upset of powerhouse Criss Cross last Wednesday as a turning point for the team, saying it served as a valuable lesson moving forward.

VNS falls short but gains experience

VNS struggled to contain FEU-DN Steel’s momentum despite a disciplined performance. Captain Noy Pedrosa led the Griffins with 10 points on nine attacks and a block, while RK Medino and Kimmy Liray added nine and eight points, respectively. The young squad committed just nine errors in the loss, showing promise for future competitions.

FEU-DN Steel will close its campaign against UST-Gameville on Sunday at 5 p.m., while VNS will face winless PGJC-Navy at 1 p.m. in the same venue, hoping to finish the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on a positive note.