Struggling on receive for most of the match, the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles had just enough offensive power to outlast the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 14-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 15-12, for their second win in UAAP Season 81 at FilOil Flying V Centre.
FEU broke away from an early tussle through service aces. From a 7-all tie, FEU pounded the Lady Eagles from the service line, eventually taking an 18-10 advantage. The Lady Tamaraws then went on a similar run in the second frame, serving their way to a 17-11 gap.
The Lady Eagles regained their groove in the third set, shaking off the Lady Tams with a 5-1 run that gave them a 22-19 lead. Heated exchanges at the net powered the Lady Eagles, as Kat Tolentino and Bea De Leon scored crucial points to extend the match. A decider was inevitable when the Lady Eagles grabbed a 16-9 advantage in the fourth set.
The decider was close, until errors from FEU setter Kyle Negrito gave Ateneo a 14-12 lead. Tolentino then finished off the long ally that followed to clinch the win.
“Well first, it’s really the faith. I just asked them to keep the faith, believe that it will be given to them,” a passionate Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro told the media.
“It’s really the faith. We’re down and we don’t know what to do already. Our legs are not working, our minds are not working. Hindi namin alam kung ano nangyari sa amin noong first two sets. I just told them to keep the faith,” he added.
Tolentino finished with 19 points, 17 of which came in the last three sets. Meanwhile, Lady Eagles captain Maddie Madayag added 14 markers.
“Nagtiwala sila sa sarili nila, and the skills came out. Naka-receive kami, naka-serve kami, naka-atake kami. Unti-unti, lumabas ang resiliency ng mga bata. Nag-pay off naman ang faith nila sa isa’t isa at faith kay Lord,” asserted Almadro.
Heather Guino-O topped the Lady Tamaraws with 16, while Jerrili Malabanan and Celine Domingo contributed 13.
Both squads play their next match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Far Eastern University (1-2) will face the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses (2-1) on Saturday, while Ateneo (2-1) take on the University of the East Lady Warriors (0-2) on Sunday.
The Scores
ADMU (3) – Tolentino 19, Madayag 14, Gaston 9, Wong 8, Samonte 7, De Leon 3, Gandler 0, Delos Reyes 0, Maraguinot 0, Gequillana (L), Ravena (L)
FEU (2) – Guino-O 16, Domingo 13, Malabanan 13, Ebon 8, Villareal 8, Negrito 7, Carandang 2, Hernandez 1, Cayuna 0, Ronquillo 0, Duremdes (L)
