For Rhodson Du-ot and Far Eastern University-DN Steel, the sting of a championship lost could have lingered longer.
Instead, the Tamaraws chose to channel their disappointment into a fresh start, finding in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference a chance to learn, rebuild, and prepare for the challenges ahead.
The heartbreak of their V-League Finals defeat to National University was still fresh, but Du-ot knew FEU could not afford to carry that burden into another tournament.
The Tamaraws had little time to dwell on the collapse that cost them the championship. With another campaign waiting, they had to pick themselves up and shift their attention to what lay ahead.
“Siguro, noong unang mga isang araw, parang masakit. Pero kailangan magtrabaho pa kasi ’di puwedeng pupunta kami sa Spikers’ Turf na dala namin ’yung sakit ng V-League,” Du-ot said.
“ Ayun, kailangan naming pagtrabahuhan talaga.”
For the young setter, moving forward meant more than simply putting a painful defeat behind him. It meant using the experience as motivation to address the team's shortcomings and avoid repeating the mistakes that proved costly in their previous campaign.
The Spikers’ Turf, meanwhile, offers Du-ot an opportunity to sharpen his skills against more experienced competition as he prepares for a potentially bigger responsibility in FEU's upcoming UAAP campaign.
With fellow setters Ariel Cacao and Benny Martinez having departed, Du-ot faces the prospect of taking on a more prominent role in orchestrating the Tamaraws' offense. The opportunity comes with pressure, but he sees it as an important step in his development.
“Siguro, parang malaking opportunity talaga para sa ’min na makatapat namin ’yung mga kuya namin. Doon kami matututo papuntang UAAP,” he said.
Du-ot offered an encouraging glimpse of what he could bring to the table on Saturday, helping FEU turn the page on its V-League disappointment with a commanding 25-23, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of AEP-Cabstars at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The setter tallied 14 excellent sets as the Tamaraws found their offensive rhythm and completed the straight-sets victory in just 64 minutes, opening their Invitational Conference campaign on a winning note.
Beyond the result, the performance provided a timely reminder that FEU could still build on the lessons of its championship setback. With a new tournament underway, the Tamaraws have an opportunity to refine their game and develop the composure needed to handle adversity.
Head coach Eddieson Orcullo believes the team's experience of falling short can serve as a valuable foundation for its continued growth. For him, the challenge lies in recognizing the disappointment without allowing it to dictate the team's response to its next opportunity.
“Pinakamaganda ’yung moment na nanggaling kami sa baba. Tapos ngayon, ’yung moment na may panibago ulit na tournament na, may misyon na kailangan naming mag-focus ulit,” Orcullo said.
“So, lagi nating sinasabi sa kanila na doon sa moment na ’yon, ’yung damdamin natin, dapat medyo itabi muna natin. Kailangan mag-focus tayo sa kung ano ’yung present na nangyayari sa tournament natin ngayon.”
For Du-ot, the path forward is clear: learn from the heartbreak, embrace the opportunity to grow, and keep working.
