PASAY CITY – Far Eastern University (FEU) extended its winning streak to five, defeating University of the East (UE) in straight sets, 25-16, 25-23, 25-19, on Wednesday (05 Mar 2025) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament.

Mikko Espartero led the way for the Tamaraws with eight points and six digs, while middle blocker Lirick Mendoza also contributed eight points, including five attacks and three blocks. This win mirrors FEU’s 5-0 start from Season 81 (2019).

“We just keep pushing forward. We’ve overcome our challenges, especially the illnesses in the team. Our success comes from a strong collective effort,” said assistant coach Rene Dulay, who is standing in for head coach Eddieson Orcullo, recovering from Achilles surgery.

Skipper Jelord Talisayan, Dryx Saavedra, and Doula Ndongala combined to build an 18-13 lead in the third set. Despite a brief rally by UE, FEU sealed the win through Amet Bituin and Ariel Cacao, wrapping up the match in one hour and 22 minutes.

Talisayan finished with seven points, including six attacks and one block, while Saavedra and Ndongala each added seven points. Vennie Ceballos contributed 12 receptions, and Benny Martinez recorded 10 excellent sets.

“The key is balance and teamwork. We make sure every player contributes—it’s not about one person, but the whole team,” Dulay explained.

For the Red Warriors (0-5), John Steve Aligaynon led with 13 points, followed by Raquim Aceron’s 11 points and 15 excellent receptions. Roy Gabriel Piojo chipped in with nine points.

FEU’s next match is against Adamson University, while UE will face De La Salle University on Saturday.

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THE road to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship (MWCH) 2025 in September will be ushered in by two international and two domestic competitions and the national teams in both indoor and beach volleyball seeing action in more than a dozen competitions overseas.

Action starts today (Wednesday, January 29) with eight teams seeing action in the inaugural Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-21 Championship National Men’s Division at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The teams are divided into two groups in the preliminary round with Volleyball Never Stop (VNS) Club and Silay Volleyball Club (SVC) clashing in the first game at 9 a.m. followed by the 11:30 a.m. duel between Zamboanga City and Lingayen in Group A.

Umingan Volleyball Club (UVC) and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) kick off Group B hostilities at 2 p.m.  as well as City of Naga-Cebu Volleyball Club (CNV) and University of East (UE) at 4:30 p.m.

“The Under-21 championship is part and parcel of the national team program that aims to maintain the production line of talents for international competitions,” said PNVF head Ramon “Tats” Suzara, also the president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and executive vice president of the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB.

The preliminaries will continue on Friday while the semifinals are set Saturday and the final on Sunday in the championship supported by Akari, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Meralco, PLDT, Smart, AyalaLand, Nuvali, Mikasa, Senoh, Asics, Rebisco, Cignal, OneSports, OneSports+ and Pilipinas Live.

Also in the domestic radar are the National Beach Volleyball Championships in February and the Second AVC Beach Tour-Nuvali Open in April both at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa City.

Nuvali will also be the venue for the FIVB World Beach Pro Tour Futures.

The Philippines will host the men’s world championship for the first time from September 12 to 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM Mall of Asia Arena.