The Far Eastern University teams entered the second round with a clear shot at the semi-finals. Eager to stay above the pack and improve their standing, the FEU Tamaraws and Lady Tamaraws failed to overcome the league leaders, but nevertheless are still within arm’s reach of the championship.
Tamaraws
FEU went into the second round third in the standings with a 5-2 record. But they were unprepared for the alternating victories and defeats they would experience.
Facing the University of Santo Tomas first off, the FEU Tamaraws were stunned by a sweeping defeat, before they bounced back against the University of the East Red Warriors, whom they routed 3-0. The Tamaraws’ celebration, however, was cut short by the incumbent champions, De La Salle University Green Paddlers, as they dealt FEU a 0-3 defeat. FEU would then go on to demolish the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Paddlers, 3-0, to end the first day.
Come the second day of the second round, the Tamaraws shot out of the blocks with their victory over the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 3-0. They would then be halted by a loss to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 2-3. FEU regained their footing as they defeated the National University Bulldogs, 3-1, through the efforts of Francis Igno, the duo of Kenth Caballero and Christian Villanueva, and Victor Dalut.
Lady Tamaraws
Comfortable in second place, the FEU Lady Tamaraws started the second round slowly. Suffering a defeat to UP, 2-3, they regained their bearings in the next match to rout NU 3-0. They also swept UST and Adamson, 3-1 and 3-0 respectively, to end the first day.
The second day started differently as the in-form Lady Tamaraws were quick to bag consecutive victories against ADMU and UST. They were also nearly able to beat the incumbent champions, the DLSU Lady Paddlers, to deny a sweep. But despite a fight from Lyndel Sallado and Rose Fadol, FEU eventually succumbed to the title-holders, 2-3.
