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FEU men's volleyball coach cites lack of maturity in loss to Ateneo

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/02/05/ar2_3017e.jpg"/><figcaption>FEU failed to make the finals after it was defeated twice by Ateneo in the semis. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University (FEU) was in a great position to return to the UAAP men&#x27;s volleyball finals in Season 80, as they finished the elimination round as the second seed and was thus armed with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final 4.Moreover, the Tamaraws were facing defending champion Ateneo de Manila University in the semifinals. They had already beaten the Blue Eagles twice in the elimination round, and the champions were also reeling from a four-set loss to National University (NU) in their final game of the elims.Come the Final 4, however, the Tamaraws were unable to continue their winning ways against the Blue Eagles. Behind a historic 55-point output from reigning MVP Marck Espejo, Ateneo won a five-set marathon to force a deciding game; in that do-or-die match, Espejo dropped 37 points and towed the Blue Eagles to a four-set win.From the brink of a first finals appearance since Season 75, FEU instead found itself eliminated, wondering what else they could have done to stop the Blue Eagles – more specifically, the powerful Espejo.&quot;Kung kailan pa &#x27;yung dulo, doon pa nawalan ng panalo,&quot; lamented FEU coach Rey Diaz.Diaz maintained that it was not an entirely lost season. He touted the great improvement of his team, their impressive performances in the elimination round, and the growth that they showed on an individual level.As far as skills, conditioning, and endurance went, his team had it all. What they lacked – especially compared to Ateneo – were maturity and experience.&quot;&#x27;Yung experience na nangyari nitong semifinals, hindi namin kayang ituro &#x27;yun,&quot; said the coach. FEU had been to the playoffs in Season 79, when the semifinals was held in a stepladder format because of Ateneo&#x27;s elimination round sweep. Last year, they dragged NU to a do-or-die match for the last finals spot, but fell apart in the closing stretches of a five-set marathon.Diaz hoped that they had learned from that experience, but even the lessons from last year&#x27;s loss were not enough against an Ateneo team that was brimming with veteran leadership in the form of Espejo, skipper Karl Baysa, and setter Ish Polvorosa.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/04/25/uaap-80-men-s-volleyball-feu-coach-diaz-praises-polvorosa-40783">READ: FEU coach Diaz praises Polvorosa</a></li></ul>&quot;Magaling kasi talaga ang Ateneo sa composure,&quot; Diaz explained. &quot;Talagang sa maturity nakukuha &#x27;yun eh. Siguro, &#x27;yun pa talaga &#x27;yung kulang namin – &#x27;yung maturity namin.&quot;&quot;Magiging composed kami ng isang puntos, tapos sa susunod na balikan, nawawala,&quot; he noted. &quot;Siguro &#x27;yun talaga ang dapat naming ayusin.&quot;There were few long rallies in the do-or-die match, but more often than not it was Ateneo that won those exchanges. Up to the very end, the Tamaraws had little answer for Espejo, who converted a superb 51% of his spikes on Wednesday.The Tamaraws&#x27; lack of composure was evident in the very last rally – when Jude Garcia sent his serve long to wrap up the victory for the Blue Eagles.&quot;&#x27;Yung maturity kasi ng Ateneo, nila Marck, nila Ish, nila Baysa, &#x27;yun pa rin ang nag-dala,&quot; said Diaz. &quot;Mahirap kasi makuha &#x27;yun ng isang snap lang.&quot;Whereas Ateneo had three fifth-year players who took charge of the squad, FEU only had one graduating player – libero Rikko Marmeto. Their key scorers – Garcia, RJ Paler, JP Bugaoan – are all youngsters.Diaz is hoping that those players, among others, will draw strength from this heartbreaking experience once more when it is their turn to be FEU&#x27;s leaders next year.&quot;Siguro, itong mga dumadating sa amin, test ito para mag-improve naman kami in terms of maturity,&quot; said Diaz.&quot;Lahat kami, sigurado ako na may natutunan kami,&quot; he also said. &quot;Kaya sana ka&#x27;ko, i-treasure namin ito, at gamitin namin para sa next season. Sana, makabawi kami.&quot; For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Far Eastern University was in a great position to return to the UAAP men's volleyball Finals in Season 80, as they had finished the elimination round as the second seed and was thus armed with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final 4.

Far Eastern University was in a great position to return to the UAAP men's volleyball Finals in Season 80, as they had finished the elimination round as the second seed and was thus armed with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final 4.

FEU men's volleyball coach cites lack of maturity in loss to Ateneo

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FEU men's volleyball coach cites lack of maturity in loss to Ateneo

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 26, 2018 06:17 PM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

volleyball

FEU Tamaraws

Ateneo Blue Eagles

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