For the second season in a row, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws clinched a spot in the UAAP Final Four, overcoming a resilient Adamson University Lady Falcons in four sets, 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 28-26 at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Surrendering errors and free balls, FEU could not put away from the Lady Falcons, who were without their most recent ACL victim, May Roque. The Lady Tams, however, still managed to take the opening two sets through the late heroics of their veterans. Their miscues, however, caught up with them in the third set, as Adamson extended the match.
Both squads again battled to a stalemate in the fourth set, with neither taking more than a two-point lead. The Lady Falcons broke away late through the serving of Jema Galanza, who shot an ace and coaxed two consecutive free balls out of the Lady Tams to give Adamson set point, 24-21. FEU then rallied back to force deuce, with a 3-0 run built on unyielding floor defense. Still, a trade of service errors placed the Lady Falcons ahead, 26-25. From there, the Lady Tams took over one last time. Rookie Nette Villareal punched a quick through two Adamson blockers, which Bernadette Pons followed with a beautiful floater. Jerrili Malabanan then iced the match with a whirling service ace which the Adamson libero could not control.
“Very thankful lang kami kasi nakapasok kami ulet sa Final Four,” said FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos. “Nasa isip pa kasi nang mga bata yung una naming laban against Adamson. Pero, thankfully, naka-recover naman kami,” he continued, referring to his team’s first round, five-set loss to the Lady Falcons.
Pons had an all-around match with 19 points, nine digs, and eight excellent receptions. Malabanan contributed 11 markers, while Remy Palma and Toni Basas had 10 apiece.
Bernadette Flora, who filled in for Roque, led the way together with Gema Galanza, who each had 13 points. Mylene Paat finished with 11 points.
At 9-5, FEU have secured the third seed in the Final Four, a stark contrast to last season when they needed to win a do-or-die playoff against UST.
Adamson are yet to win a match in the second round at 3-10. They finish their season on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre against the listless University of the East Lady Warriors.
The Score
FEU (3) – Pons 19, Malabanan 11, Palma 10, Basas 10, Villareal 6, Cayuna 5, Guino-O 3, Negrito 1, Sy 1, Duremdes (L), Atienza (L)
AdU (1) – Galanza 13, Flora 13, Paat 11, Alkuino 5, Emnas 5, Dacoron 4, Mohammad 0, Lebumfacil (0)
