Far Eastern University completed a sweep of the preliminary round in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge after dispatching fellow league leader Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 25–20, 25–22, 25–23, on Sunday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The defending champions overcame slow starts in each set before finding their rhythm and pulling away from the Knights when it mattered most.
The third set proved to be the closest, with FEU and Letran trading points throughout. A Kyle Tandoc kill and a Luis Vicente error gave the Tamaraws a 22–20 lead, providing them with the cushion they needed to close out the match.
After another exchange of points, Mikko Espartero, who came on for Luis Miguel, delivered back-to-back kills to finish off the Knights and complete FEU’s seven-game sweep of the eliminations.
Tandoc earned Player of the Game honors after leading the Tamaraws with 13 points and 11 excellent receptions. Captain Dryx Saavedra added 14 points, while Miguel contributed 10.
FEU also leaned on its strong net defense, tallying 13 kill blocks in the victory.
As the top seed, the Tamaraws will face De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the semifinals on Wednesday at the Playtime FilOil Center.
The Blazers secured the fourth and final semifinal berth earlier Sunday by beating De La Salle University, 16–25, 25–18, 25–14, 25–20.
Benilde needed to win in four sets or fewer to advance and overcame another slow start, with head coach Arnold Laniog turning to substitute setter Al Rabanes to help steady the team.
Rabanes responded with 12 excellent sets off the bench, successfully filling in for captain and starting setter Chris Villanueva. He also contributed three points and a dig.
After DLSU threatened to make the fourth set interesting, Reymark Betco and JV Estrada helped the Blazers rebuild a three-point lead at 16–13. Benilde then traded points with the Green Spikers before Mike Balbacal ended the match with back-to-back quick middle kills.
Betco led all scorers with 20 points, while Rocky Motol added 15. Balbacal finished with eight points.
The victory sent Benilde to the V-League semifinals for the first time.
“Sabi ko nga, ano nang nangyayari at hindi tayo manalo ng first set? Pag first set, controlled tayo ng kalaban at ang layo. Buti na lang second set nakuha, third set nagkuha. Sabi ko, expect niyo fourth set, mag-all out ‘yan. Pero good thing, na-control at napanalo,” said Laniog.
“Happy na makapasok for the first time sa semis. Before maganda naman standing, pero nadadali sa quotient. Ngayon kami naman nakapasok dahil sa quotient. I’m happy lang sa response na kung ano ‘yung gusto nation, nakuha natin,” he added.
Letran finished third in the standings with a 5–2 record and will face reigning six-time UAAP champions National University in the other semifinal.
Jessel Nimo led the Knights with 16 points, while Dave Lardizabal added 14. Letran committed 21 errors, several of which came at crucial moments against FEU.
Meanwhile, DLSU ended its campaign with a 2–5 record and missed the semifinals for the first time since the league’s reinstatement.
Yoyong Mendoza led the Green Spikers with 17 points, while Arjay Magallanes added 12, but Benilde’s defense kept DLSU from completing the comeback.
FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo, meanwhile, stressed that the defending champions cannot afford to ease up despite their unbeaten preliminary-round campaign.
“Siguro, hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax sa next two days, kasi sa Wednesday, ‘yun na ‘yung semis natin. Hindi kami dapat makampante sa lahat ng spat naming ginagawa. Baka ngayon pa nga dapat mas mag-focus doon sa lahat ng gagawin namin,” said Orcullo.
