Far Eastern University vented its frustration on University of the East, 25-20, 25-14, 25-14, to notch its first win in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Eager to bounce back from a straight-sets loss to the De La Salle University Lady Spikers last Saturday, the Lady Tamaraws overcame a tight opening set before dominating the next two frames to level their record at 1-1.
FEU also moved into a tie for fourth place with the Shaina Nitura-led Adamson University, which fell in three sets to National University Lady Bulldogs earlier in the day.
Behind the efforts of Lovely Lopez, Congolese wing spiker Faida Bakanke, and Jaz Ellarina, the Lady Tamaraws gained momentum heading into a crucial showdown against the defending champion and unbeaten NU Lady Bulldogs — the same squad that eliminated them in the Final Four over the past two seasons — on Saturday, February 21, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Siguro yung lagi nila sinasabi sa amin nila coach yung slow start namin, and mas ma-polish namin yung serve pass kasi mostly doon kami nawawalan ng rally pag nawawalan kami ng pasa and service. ‘Yon yung mas pinagfo-focusan namin,” said Ellarina, who bounced back with 11 points built on five attacks, five blocks, and one ace.
“Ngayon, pinaliwanag nila sa akin na hindi lang palo ang gagawin ko; kailangan kong mag-commit sa net sa blockings. Hindi siya magagawa overnight, kaya process talaga siya. Months and until now, nahihirapan pa rin ako. Willing ako to accept the pressure na maging isang leader at inaasahan nila sa blockings,” she added.
Head coach Tina Salak and lead assistant Manolo Refugia did not attend the post-game press conference.
The Lady Warriors were competitive early, keeping within striking distance in the opening set and trimming the deficit to 8-7 in the third. However, the Lady Tamaraws broke the match open with a decisive 8-1 run — capped by back-to-back attacks from Bakanke and Gerz Petallo, along with a UE attack error — to seize a commanding 16-8 advantage.
UE struggled to recover from there. Consecutive Bakanke hits, a quick attack from Mitzi Panangin, a Bea Zamudio attack error, and a game-winning off-the-block hit from Alyssa Devosora completed FEU’s bounce-back victory in 76 minutes.
Prior to the dominant third set, FEU had already asserted control in the second frame, racing to an 18-8 lead and never looking back. Two attacks from Ellarina and a center line foot fault by the Lady Warriors sealed the 2-0 set cushion.
Bakanke finished with 11 points on 10 attacks and added three excellent digs, while Petallo delivered an all-around performance with nine points on six attacks, two blocks, and one ace, along with nine excellent digs and six excellent receptions.
Setter Tin Ubaldo orchestrated the offense with 10 excellent sets, on top of four attacks and three blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other side, the Lady Warriors remained winless after two games, extending their losing streak to 16 matches dating back to a winless Season 87 campaign and an opening-day loss to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last Saturday.
No UE player reached double figures in scoring.
Khy Cepada led the way with nine points on eight attacks, along with six excellent receptions and three excellent digs. Zamudio added seven points and nine excellent receptions.
Bangayan chipped in eight points on seven attacks and three excellent digs, while graduating libero Angge Reyes tallied 14 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions.
UE looks to end its skid when it faces Adamson on the same date and at the same venue.
