Tamaraws Silence UAAP Champs NU in Wild Five-Set Showdown

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Far Eastern University (FEU) stayed perfect at 5-0 on Sunday, Sept. 20, outlasting National University (NU) in five sets at the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge. The Tamaraws took the deciding set, 15-11, at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

FEU silenced the UAAP champions in a wild finish. NU forced a fifth set, but the Tamaraws answered with sharper serve-receive and steadier nerves.

FEU's balanced attack helped the defending V-League champions withstand NU's challenge in five sets. [PVL Images] — FEU’s balanced attack helped the defending V-League champions withstand NU’s challenge in five sets. [PVL Images]

FEU vs. NU: Serve-Receive and Balanced Attack Decide V-League Thriller

The Tamaraws had already booked a semifinal spot with a sweep of De La Salle University a day earlier. Even so, they stressed the need for better serve-receive execution. Against the Bulldogs, that fix proved crucial.

FEU logged 46 excellent receptions, led by outside hitter Mikko Espartero with 17. Those clean passes fed the offense, and Rhodson Du-ot registered 21 excellent sets.

Dryx Saavedra and Kyle Tandoc delivered the finishing blows. Saavedra once again led the V-League titleholders with 22 points, including 19 attacks and three blocks. He also collected four digs.

Four other Tamaraws finished in double figures. Charles Absin led the group with 15 points, while outside hitters Amet Bituin and Espartero added 14 and 12, respectively. Doula Ndongala chipped in 11.

Head coach Eddieson Orcullo was happy, but not yet content. “Siguro happy pero at the same time, hindi pa contented kasi marami pang dapat ayusin. Kaya ayon, ensayo uli,” he said.

In English, that means there is still much to fix, so it’s back to practice. Orcullo added that the players wanted the win, perhaps because NU challenged them. He called that a big factor in the win.

NU Bulldogs Lose Star Trio; FEU vs. UST Up Next

Leo Ordiales led NU with 23 points, and Buds Buddin added 17. Both spikers are bound for the Asian Games. Peng Taguibolos and Buddin tried to rally the UAAP champions in the fifth set, but FEU held its nerve.

The loss dropped NU to 3-3. The Bulldogs will play the rest of the tournament without Taguibolos, Ordiales and Buddin, starting with a crucial match against Arellano University on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3 p.m.

FEU closes out the preliminaries with back-to-back games. It faces rival University of Santo Tomas (UST), now 3-3, on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m. Colegio de San Juan de Letran (5-1) follows on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m.