After a disheartening five-set loss to the NU Lady Bulldogs last Wednesday, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws recovered with a resounding sweep of the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags 26-24, 25-20, 25-11 in the 2016 Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Lady Tams staggered in the first set. After staying within a point of the Lady Stags, FEU squandered consecutive receptions leading to a 19-16 Lady Stag lead. FEU’s errors than powered the Lady Stags to a 23-18 lead but the Morayta-based spikers had a response. With substitute setter Kyle Negrito in, FEU rattled off four straight points to come within a points. Soltones smashed a hit down the line to put San Sebastian at set point but Bernadette Pons answered with a crisp crosscourt hit. Heather Guino-O then stifled a Nikka Dalisay hit to force a deuce which FEU took control of down the stretch. The Lady Tams fought off SSC’s advance at set point, following with a Pons off-the-block kill to reach set point, 26-25. A defensive play transitioned beautifully into a a Jerrili Malabanan quick hit gave the set to the Lady Tamaraws.
Shakey’s V-League Open Conference MVP Soltones powered the Lady Stags to keep pace with FEU in the second set but fatigue took over for the high-flying open hitter as the set wore on. Trailing 16-18, SSC’s deficit grew larger when Soltones had to be subbed out to rest. The Lady Tams rained three straight spikes which widened their lead to 23-18, quelling SSC’s last stand. The third set quickly turned into a wash as the Lady Tams dominated every category, eventually erecting an insurmountable 23-10 advantage.
“Mapapansin mo naman sa laro namin na parang may hangover from last game kaya mabagal ‘yung simula. Sabi ko hindi naman pwedeng ganoon na lang kami kaya mabuti naman naka-recover kaagad,” said FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos.
Bernadette Pons, who had been playing through a flu the past three matches, topped the Lady Tams with 17 points while team captain Remy Palma added 14.
Soltones was limited to just 12 points for the Lady Stags while Nikka Dalisay added nine.
With a 3-1 slate, the Lady Tams came within a match of making the semis. At 2-2, the Lady Stags will need to keep winning to secure their advance.
FEU faces the Ateneo Lady Eagles (1-1) on Wednesday, August 31 at the PhilSports Arena. SSC takes on the UP Lady Maroons (1-1) on the same day and venue
The Scores
FEU (3) – Pons 17, Palma 14, Basas 9, Guino-O 9, Malabanan 6, Villareal 3, Cayuna 1, Negrito 1, Rebleza 1, Hernandez 0, Carandang 0, Duremdes (L), Palma (L)
SSC (0) – Soltones 12, Dalisay 9, Sta. Rita 6, Lim 5, Villegas 4, Santos 1, Encarnacion 0, Guillema 0, Pingoy 0, Cruz (L), Eroa (L)
