FEU Tamaraws rookie Mikko Espartero after the UAAP Season 87 Men’s volleyball Finals loss. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines —However heartbreaking the loss, Mikko Espartero is taking the lessons to heart after Far Eastern University fell short in its UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball title bid.
Espartero struggled in FEU’s straight-sets loss to five-peat champion National University, 25-16, 28-26, 25-23, in the winner-take-all Game 3 on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in front of a record 14,517 fans.
READ: UAAP Finals: NU Bulldogs fulfill ‘five-peat’ dream, overcome FEU
The rookie was held to just two points on 10 attack attempts but contributed 12 receptions for the Tamaraws.
“This was a great experience for me, especially as preparation for next year. Now I know how to handle the pressure of playing in front of such a huge crowd,” said Espartero in Filipino.
“We really worked hard and gave our best to get what we wanted. It didn’t go our way this time, but overall, it was a good experience for us, and for me personally.”
READ: UAAP: Inspired Mikko Espartero leads FEU revenge win over UST
Espartero, who totaled 194 points in the elimination round where FEU posted a 13-1 record, was limited to just an average of six points across the three-game Finals series.
Despite his Finals slump, FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo encouraged Espartero to learn from the experience and keep his head up.
“I always tell Mikko, when you make a mistake, the only way forward is to rise from it, right? Whatever happened in the previous game—well, this is what happened to us now, so let’s embrace it,” said Orcullo.
“At the end of the day, what matters most is that we’re still here, and we have the chance to bounce back. I’m sure Mikko won’t stop until he gets to where he wants to be.”
‘Don’t judge us’
FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo on the record-breaking crowd.
He urges the fans to be kinder. #UAAPSeason87 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/EEeVV5xUhI
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) May 17, 2025
Orcullo also called for compassion from fans as Espartero faced backlash online following his struggles in the Finals.
“I hope people understand that everyone—coaches and players—we never stop working,” said Orcullo. “Whatever you see on the court, if a player gets rattled or makes mistakes, it’s because he’s human. We have hearts, we have minds. And the pressure? It’s intense. Everything piles on us during those moments.”
READ: UAAP Finals first-timer FEU undaunted after Game 1 win over NU
“So when you see errors or reactions that might seem off, we ask for your understanding. Please don’t tear someone down on social media just because of one bad moment. Sometimes we skip breakfast to make it to training. Sometimes we go to class feeling like we’ve got nothing left in the tank. But we still show up.”
“Please don’t judge us just for falling short,” he added.
Despite the heartbreaking end to FEU’s run and the school’s ongoing 13-year title drought, Espartero stayed grateful.
“I’m incredibly thankful to the Lord because we honestly didn’t expect to bring FEU all the way to the Finals,” he said. “This experience has taught me a lot, and I’ll definitely carry those lessons as I prepare for next year.”