Far Eastern University–Diliman clinched its first-ever appearance in the UAAP High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament Finals after completing a stunning reverse sweep of No. 2 Adamson University, 14–25, 22–25, 25–18, 27–25, 15–6, on Monday at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
The Baby Lady Tamaraws, who ended the eliminations at 9–5 in third place, forced a do-or-die Game 2 last Saturday after a 25–22, 18–25, 23–25, 27–25, 15–7 victory over the Season 87 runners-up.
FEU-Diliman rode that breakthrough win’s momentum to book a historic Finals showdown with the reigning champions, the National University–Nazareth School Lady Bullpups.
NUNS defeated the University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses in the other Final Four pairing last Saturday, 33-31, 25-22, 20-25, 25-18.
The first-ever Diliman vs. Jhocson championship duel begins on Thursday, December 11, at 4:00 PM, in the same Katipunan venue.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Baby Falcons seemed headed for a fourth consecutive Finals meeting with the Bullpups after a dominant first-set win. But they faltered in the second as the Lady Baby Tamaraws tightened their net defense.
FEU Diliman delivered a collective effort in the tense fifth set, highlighted by Joeyana Bongo’s back-to-back points — a push to the empty Zone 1 and a service ace — to extend their lead to 10–5.
A crucial denial by Bernardine Boston on Ellaine Gonzalvo halted Adamson’s momentum, before Nigerian student-athlete MJ Udeagbala hammered three booming kills to seal the two-hour, 20-minute victory and the program’s first-ever Finals berth.
“Wala akong masabi sa mga bata; grabe ‘yung trabaho nila. Nakita naman natin siguro sa blocking, talaga namang maganda,” said second-year head coach Joanne Bunag.
Team captain Caitlyn Umal continued her dominant net presence after an eight-block performance in Game 1, producing 13 of FEU’s 21 blocks in their Finals-clinching win.
Udeagbala added five rejections to finish with 33 points built on 27 spikes, five blocks, and one ace.
Still, it was Boston’s timely contributions that stood out for Bunag, who had been searching for someone to fill the role of Alas Pilipinas pool member Cla Loresco.
“Pero ang pinaka-key talaga was ‘yung isang middle namin, si Boston. Kasi siya ‘yung pumunan do’n sa kulang namin, kasi mapa-block, mapa-serve, nag-contribute siya,” Bunag added.
Boston finished with three points, including the pivotal block in the decider, while libero Franz Premaylon steadied the Lady Baby Tamaraws’ floor defense with 14 digs and 20 excellent receptions.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Despite settling for bronze, the Lady Baby Falcons drew solid outings from their wing scorers, led by last year’s Rookie of the Year, Gonzalvo, who tallied 15 points off 13 attacks.
Kristal Martin and Francheska Adem chipped in 14 markers each, while middle blocker Janna Dizon added 11.
