Defending Champion Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws relied on Honey Royce Tubino’s brilliance in the second set to gun down the College of Saint Benilde Lady Blazers in straight sets, 25-21, 25-6, 25-17 in the quarterfinals phase of the Shakeys V-League Collegiate Conference, at the FilOil Flying V Arena, Sunday afternoon.
Both teams played tight in the early parts of the first set, as both settled for a 16-all tie, answering each others attacks. Remy Palma, Jerrilli Malabanan, guest player, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Angelice Cayuna combined efforts to give the Lady Tamaraws a 21-17 lead. With the errors of the Lady Blazers, FEU was able widen the lead to 24-17, but the Lady Blazers were able to capitalize on the late errors of the Lady Tamaraws to score four straight points and cut their deficit to 24-21. Moreover, Gonzaga scored a dump ball to finally hand the set to the Morayta based squad.
In the second set, Tubino went on a scoring rampage to completely bury the Lady Blazers, as she attacked on all angles to give the Lady Tamaraws a two-to-none set advantage with Bernadeth Pons, and Gonzaga helping her to keep the Taft based squad at bay.
The Lady Tamaraws continued its domination in the third set, with Pons unleashing a quick attack to give FEU a comfortable 17-7 lead, but the Lady Blazers made a run of its own in an attempt to salvage the game; behind the heroics of Jannine Navarro and Jeanette Panaga. Still, FEU remained unstoppable, as Geneveve Casugod scored two straight blocks to end the hopes of the Lady Blazers for a comeback.
After the game Lady Tamaraws Head Coach, Shaq Delos Santos, admitted that the team was challenged after their defeat against the National University Lady Bulldogs, as he used it to find ways to improve team .
“Medyo na challenge kami sa pagkatalo naming against NU, sabi ko sa kanila wala tayo dapat ikahiya. Yung nangyari sa NU dapat kalimutan na iyon,” Delos Santos said.
Delos Santos also shared the momentum shifted to the Lady Tamaraws when they played a good second set.
“Yung momentum napunta sa amin, dahil sa service at receiving kami bumawi,” Delos Santos added.
Pons finished with 14 points, and Tubino chipped nine points, all coming from attacks to lead the Lady Tamaraws.
Navarro and Ranya Musa scored five points each to pace the Lady Blazers.
The Lady Tamaraws will continue its quarterfinals campaign against the De La Salle Dasmarinas Lady Patriots, on August 23 at 3:00 PM, while the Lady Blazers will try to bounce back against the National University Lady Bulldogs, at 12:45 PM at the same day in the same venue.
The Scores:
FEU (3) – Pons 14, Tubino 9, Gonzaga 8, Negrito 5, Basas 4, Palma 4, Guino-o 3, Hernandez 2,Malabanan 2, Cayuna 1, Casugod 1, Duremdes (L), Atienza (L)
CSB (0) – Navarro 5, Musa 5, Panaga 3, Cheng 2, Torres 2, Dolorito 1, Daguil 0, Borrero 0, Umali 0, Lim (L), Enclona (L)
