Rallying late behind its outside hitters, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws barged into the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference with a five-set triumph over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses 25-16, 19-25, 27-29, 25-15, 15-10 at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
With both teams suffering from sluggish starts, FEU’s guest players – Jovelyn Gonzaga and Royse Tubino – boosted them to a convincing first set win. FEU, however, slid into a catatonic state in the second set, fumbling their receptions and stopping their own momentum with service errors. The third set seemed to be in the lady Tams’ hands as they had the lead midway through and protected it to get set point at 24-22. The Lady Tams then surrendered consecutive errors to send the match into a deuce where FEU earned two more set points, but FEU failed to hold on, coughing up another run of errors to seal the set and a 2-1 UST sets lead.
FEU’s sophomore skipper, Toni Rose Basas anchored her team throughout the fourth set to setup a magnificent finish led by Gonzaga, forcing a fifth set. The Tigresses ran out of gas come the final set, allowing FEU to go up by as much as seven, 12-5. UST had no answers left in them and conceded the outright semis berth.
UST had a match-long struggle with their floor defense and service recption which made it hard for the to setup their offense. FEU forged a 60-45 spikes advantage while also tallying more digs and receptions. FEU libero, Kyla atienze did not start the match but had 16 digs and eight receptions to bolster FEU’s back line.
“Wala na akong problema sa skills at sa conditioning namin. Siguro ‘yung mentality na lang ng mga players ko ang kailangan mabago kapag may kalaban kaming malakas na team,” said FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos, whose team finished the quarters with a 5-2 record and the third spot on the Final Four.
FEU will now face the second-seeded NU Lady Bulldogs in a best-of-three sereis starting next weekend. NU swept UST in their first round matchup earlier in the tournament and was the team that eliminated FEU in the UAAP Final Four last season. The Lady Bulldogs, however, will not be playing with guest player and alumnus Dindin Manabat who has duties with Petron in an international tournament, “Nabawasan ‘yung sakit ng ulo ko,” Santos jokingly remarked with the absence of Manabat. “At least medyo nabawasan ‘yung laki nila.”
Former NCAA MVP, Royse Tubino torched the Tigresses with 16 points while the Bae-onic Gwapa, Gonzaga nabbed player of the game honors with 14 points and 10 digs.
UST’s prized sophomore, Ej Laure led her team’s balanced attack with 15 points, Jessey De Leon added 13, Pam Lastimosa contributed 12, while Carmela Tunay dropped 10 markers.
The Tomasinas now await the result of tomorrow’s CSB-AU tiff to determine their tournament fate. Shoud AU win, they’ll tie UST’s record and force a playoff. Should CSB win, UST gets a pass into the semis and will face the Ateneo Lady Eagles also in a best-of-three.
The Scores
FEU (3) – Tubino 16, Gonzaga 14, Basas 9, Palma 9, Pons 9, Negrito 3, Casugod 3, Cayuna 1, Guino-O 1, Hernandez 1, Duremdez (L), Atienze (L)
UST (2) – Laure 15, De Leon 13, Lastimosa 12, Tunay 10, Menses 9, Cabanos 1, Cortez 0 , Francisco 0, Verutiao 0, Sandoval 0, Tiope 0, Rasmo (L)
