Getting a chance to play almost everyone on the roster, the FEU Lady Tamaraws had no trouble grabbing their third consecutive win at the expense of the PUP Lady Radicals in straight sets, 25-16, 25-14, 25-14 in the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying-V Arena.
With the win, the Lady Tams sit comfortably atop Group A of the SVL standings after their UAAP rivals, NU Lady Bulldogs suffered their first loss earlier in the day. Third-year open hitter, Bernadeth Pons topped the scoring sheet with 13 points while guest player, Jovelyn Gonzaga pitched in 10 points.
Only four PUP players recorded a point with Syra Romo putting up a team high seven points. Guest players, Lourdes Clemente and Fritz Gallenero followed with six and five points respectively. Overall, the Lady Radicals got more points from their opponent’s errors (25) than from their scoring skills (19 combined off attacks, blocks, and aces).
Although his team performed marvelously, FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos still sees plenty of areas his team can improve on moving forward. “Sa mga serve namin marami pa rin kaming error. ‘Yung pag-gel ng team wala pa din sa gusto ko. Ang sabi ko ng sa team, kahit sinong kalaban kaya kaming talunin kaya kailangan talaga namin maghanda ng maigi kahit sino pa ‘yung kalaban,” Delos Santos said.
The defending SVL Collegiate champs face the toughest part of their schedule so far. FEU faces the UP Lady Maroons, who retooled with several blue chip recruits, on August 2, then the NU Lady Bulldogs, who eliminated the Lady Tams in last UAAP season’s step ladder Final Four, on August 8. Regardless of how they fare, FEU has already clinched a spot in the next round of eliminations.
The winless Lady Radicals can keep their inaugural SVL campaign alive if they manage to win their next two matches; first against the Lady Bulldogs on August 2 then against the UB Lady Brahmans on August 9.
The Scores:
FEU (3) – Pons 13, Gonzaga 10, Palma 8, Basas 6, Tubino 6, Malabanan 5, Casugod 5, Hernandez 2, Villareal 1, Negrito 0, Atienza (L), Duremdes (L)
PUP (0) – Romo 7, Clemente 6, Gallenero 5, Quintana 1, Cada 0, Ilasco 0, Araño 0, Madrinico 0, Tenorio (L)
