By: Ohmer Bautista
After ending their two-game skid with a win over UST last Saturday, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws continued to turn their fortunes around, escaping a meltdown and outlasting University of the East Lady Red Warriors in four sets, 25-15, 24-26, 25-22, 20-25, 15-9, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With the win, FEU improve to a 3-2 win-loss record, while UE drop to a 1-4 slate. Moreover, this is the first time FEU has managed back-to-back wins this season.
“‘Yung pagkapanalo namin, hindi siya ganoon kadali. Buti nalang na-manage namin ‘yung fifth set,” FEU head coach George Pascua expressed. “May mga dapat pang ayusin. Minsan kasi nagkakaroon ng mga miscommunications sa loob. ‘Yung chemistry siguro, ‘yun pa ‘yung iwo-work namin.”
Leading 2-1 in sets, the Lady Tamaraws looked to slam the door shut in the fourth as they zoomed to a 6-1 cushion, then extending it to a 20-16 lead to inch within their third win.
In the decisive fifth set, neither teams rested on their laurels, fighting tooth-and-nail and knotting things up at 8-all. FEU, however, created crucial separation after uncorking a 7-1 closing run capped by a Lycha Ebon kill to ice the game for good.
Ebon had her finest game of the season so far with 21 points off 17 attacks and spiked by three aces.
Celine Domingo chipped 17 markers, six of which came from blocks. Meanwhile, Nette Villareal added 10 of her own with five of which coming from rejections as well for the Lady Tams, who out-blocked UE, 15-7.
Mendrez finished with 21 markers spiked by three aces. Judith Abil and Seth Rodriguez had 10 points apiece for UE.
The Lady Tams look to extend their win streak to three as they take on the Adamson University Lady Falcons on March 10. Meanwhile, UE seek a bounce-back win against the De La Salle Lady Spikers on March 9. Both games will be played at the same venue.
The Scores:
FEU (3) – Ebon 21, Domingo 17, Villareal 10, Ronquillo 9, Guino-o 7, Agudo 5, Negrito 5, Cayuna 1, Carandang 1, Hernandez 0, Malabanan 0, Bautista (L), Duremdes (L).
UE (2) – Mendrez 21, Abil 10, Rodriguez 10, Alcayde 8, Baliton 7, Olarve 6, Bendong 4, Gabarda 1, Calavano 0, Manabat 0, Arado (L).
