Without several key players, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws still survived the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 15-25, 25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 15-7, to enter the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
FEU were without middle blockers Celine Domingo (swollen right knee), Czarina Carandang (breathing problems), and open hitter Ivana Agudo (beach volleyball).
Still, the Lady Tamaraws found enough moxie to come back from a 16-21 deficit in the fourth set to force a decider. FEU then blasted the Lady Maroons, 10-3, in the fifth set. UP tried to come back but ended the match with four straight errors.
The Lady Maroons tallied 42 errors to FEU’s 30, spelling the biggest difference in the match.
“Sabi ko sa kanila na hindi naman natatapos sa fourth set ang laban. Kailangan may maka-score ng twenty-five na team. Simple lang naman. Kaya ito, gumawa lang din sila ng paraan para manalo kami,” said FEU head coach George Pascua.
Winger Heather Guino-O tallied 13 points, while Jeanette Villareal added 10 markers to lead the Lady Tamaraws.
UP open hitter Isa Molde topped all scorers with 20 points off 17 attacks, two aces, and a block. Middle blocker Marist Layug marked 16 markers off 10 attacks and six aces.
FEU (5-1) face the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses (5-1) on August 25 at Cagayan De Oro. UP (3-3) face the San Beda Red Lionesses (1-3) on August 26 at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores
FEU (3) – Guino-O 13, Villareal 10, Malabanan 9, Ebon 7, Ronquillo 6, Negrito 5, Dejito 3, Cayuna 0, Hernandez 0, Duremdes (L)
UP (2) – Molde 20, Layug 16, Rosier 12, Magsarile 10, Bernaedo 7, Buitre 4, Sotomil 2, Estrañero 1, Altomea (L)
