Far Eastern University moved within one win of a third consecutive V-League Collegiate Challenge title, while Colegio de San Juan de Letran stayed alive in the other semifinal after contrasting results on Saturday at the FilOil Centre.
The Tamaraws swept De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 25–23, 25–22, 25–18, to complete a 2–0 semifinal series victory and book a place in the Finals.
Letran, meanwhile, refused to go down quietly, outlasting National University in a marathon, 22–25, 25–23, 29–27, 13–25, 20–18, to force a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday, with the time yet to be determined.
FEU will face the winner of the NU-Letran decider in Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals on Wednesday, October 7, at the same San Juan venue.
With momentum on their side and a 2–0 lead, the Tamaraws shook off a 0–3 deficit in the third set and surged ahead, 8–4, at the first technical timeout, taking advantage of a full frontline and an aggressive Duola Ndongala in the middle.
Kyle Tandoc extended FEU’s cushion to eight, 14–6, with a down-the-line kill through the block. Benilde answered with four straight points to cut the deficit, but that proved to be the Blazers’ last hurrah of the season.
A Xandrex Ragusta attack that clipped the line and two Ndongala blocks restored order for the Tamaraws, who completed the sweep.
“Bago kami pumunta sa Game 2, ‘yung unang inaral talaga namin is ‘yung eliminations, ‘yung umabot kami sa five sets. Medyo mahirap kami do’n kasi that was the first time na magharap kami since last season. From that game, kailangan tayong mag-react sa mga mali nating ginawa,” said coach Jelord Talisayan.
Amet Bituin led FEU with 13 points, seven excellent receptions, and four digs, while Dryx Saavedra added 14 markers.
Ndongala also made his presence felt at the net with eight blocks, stifling Benilde’s offense and forcing the Blazers to second-guess their attacks.
The Tamaraws had to work for the first two sets, however.
Benilde battled back from a deficit in the opener to forge a 22-all deadlock, only for Saavedra to deliver two straight kills and put FEU ahead.
The Blazers then took a 16–14 lead in the second set through transition plays behind Reymark Betco and the rest of the squad.
FEU responded with its net defense, denying Betco twice before Saavedra and Mikko Espartero spearheaded a 5–1 run that gave the Tamaraws a 2–0 advantage.
Betco finished with 18 points on 17 kills and one block, while Rocky Motol added 10 for Benilde.
With a third straight championship within reach, Talisayan wants his squad to maintain the same level of discipline in the Finals.
“The Finals is about consistency, kung gaano kalinis gumalaw ‘yung players, kung gaano nila pinapahalagahan yung sistema kung sino man nakalaban namin sa Finals,” said the youthful mentor, who captained FEU to its first of its back-to-back titles.
(C) V-League Images
Earlier in the day, Letran survived a five-set thriller against NU to keep its Finals hopes alive.
Despite being blown out in the fourth set, the Knights regrouped in the decider and built a 9–6 lead behind back-to-back kills from Vince Himzon.
Paulo Lopez then extended the advantage to four, 11–7, with two straight spikes as Letran held off NU’s late charge and forced the fifth set into extra points.
A quick kill from Himzon, followed by an attack error from Choi Diao, finally sealed the victory after two hours and 11 minutes.
“Parehas lang ‘yung sistema, magkakapaan talaga ‘yan. Siguro pagdating lang sa pressure game, mas lumabas ‘yung pagkabeterano ng Letran kasi mostly second-year, third-year ‘tong mga ‘to,” said head coach Jessie Lopez.
“Tinuruan ko lang din ‘yung mga batang mag-adjust kasi volleyball is a game of adjustments. Tong Game 2, hindi namin momentum ‘to eh, kanilang momentum ‘to, at least naagaw namin. Sana magtuloy-tuloy hanggang bukas,” Lopez added.
Jasper Afgao powered Letran’s comeback with 22 points off the bench, producing 20 kills and two blocks while also recording three digs and 12 excellent receptions after coming in for Christer Ambrosio.
Dave Lardizabal added 23 kills, repeatedly delivering timely hits, while Himzon finished with 12 points, including the crucial blows in the endgame.
NU also had strong individual performances, led by Jade Disquitado’s match-high 23 points. Luke Macatangay and Diao chipped in 14 apiece, but the Bulldogs’ 26 errors proved costly.
The opening set went down to the wire before NU closed it out with a 4–0 finishing run. Letran then answered in the second, taking advantage of blocks from Himzon and Lardizabal to even the match.
The Knights appeared poised to take control after winning the third set, 29–27, but NU responded emphatically in the fourth, 25–13, to force the deciding fifth.
Letran, however, had the final say, setting up a winner-take-all showdown with the Bulldogs on Sunday.
The winner will face FEU in the Finals, while the losing team will meet Benilde in Wednesday’s one-off bronze-medal match.
