The Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws made up for their straight-sets loss against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers last Wednesday and swept the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors 25-18, 25-11 ,21-25, 25-14 to notch their first win in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Centre, Sunday afternoon.
The Lady Tamaraws, who played without Bernadeth Pons due to a back injury, relied on Jerrili Malabanan and Remy Palma to lead the charge. In the opening set, they drilled the UE floor defense with their attacks to give FEU a comfortable 18-9 lead. The Lady Warriors tried to catch up through Celine Domingo and Shaya Adorador, but FEU’s power-hitting prevailed.
In the second set, the Lady Tamaraws continued their domination through Malabanan and Palma, with additional offensive support coming from Marie Toni Basas. Continuing to overwhelm UE, the Lady Tamaraws waltzed to a 2-0 set lead.
The Lady Warriors finally fought back in the third set, with Adorador and Roselle Baliton carrying the loads for the Red and White to give them a 16-14 lead heading into the second technical timeout. The Lady Tamaraws tried to salvage the set via Malabanan and Heather Guino-o, but Adorador waxed hot down the wire for the Lady Warriors to steal the set away from the Lady Tamaraws. Coincidentally, the last time UE won a set was also against FEU in the second round of last season.
UE continued their assault in the fourth set, with Adorador leading the charge to give the Lady Warriors a 8-4 advantage. But Guino-o, Palma, and Malabanan conspired to storm back and take the lead away from UE, 16-11. From there, UE’s floor defense gave out, making way for FEU to seal the victory.
“Kinailangan naming bigyan ng pahinga si Pons kasi ayaw naming lumala ‘yung injury niya,” FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos said about his injured open hitter, adding that Pons suffers from scoliosis. “Siguro kailangan namin mag-adjust sa mga injury na ‘yon.”
Guino-o and Basas combined for 30 points to lead the Lady Tamawars, while Palma and Malabanan chipped 11 and nine markers apiece. Veteran setter Gyzelle Sy tossed 23 excellent sets to orchestrate FEU offense.
Adorador finished with a career-high 23 points for the Lady Warriors, but the third-year player did not get any support from her teammates, with Abil and Baliton only contributing six and five markers apiece.
The Lady Tamaraws will next face the defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles on February 10, 2PM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena ,while the Lady Warriors will take on the National University Lady Bulldogs on February 14, 2PM at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Scores:
FEU(3)– Guino-o 15 , Basas 15, Palma 11, Malabanan 9, Villareal 5, Sy 3, Hernandez 1, Negrito 0, Cayuna 0, Dionela 0, Duremdes (L)
UE(1)– Adorador 23, Abil 9, Baliton 6, Domingo 5, Mendrez 2, Catindig 1, Bendong 0, Rodriguez 0, Gabarda 0, Dacaymat 0, Disquitado 0, Arando (L)
