FAR Eastern University-Diliman rallied from four points down in the fifth set to outlast University of the East, 23-25, 25-14, 30-28, 18-25, 16-14, and gain a piece of the lead in the UAAP Season 85 high school boys volleyball tournament Thursday at the Paco Arena.
Amet Bituin and Jhon Rey Dongon presided the Baby Tamaraws’ fightback from a 9-13 hole to deal the Junior Warriors their first loss in the thrilling two-hour, nine-minute match.
Raising its record to 4-1, FEU-Diliman moved in a tie with UE and University of Santo Tomas, which clawed back from a two-set deficit to repulse titleholder Nazareth School of National University, 27-29, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-13, in first place.
The Junior Tiger Spikers broke away with a 5-2 lead on a Ron Poja kill when the Bullpups made a run and briefly led, 9-8, after an opponent error.
UST then restored order and secured a 12-10 on a NSNU attack error.
Patrick Lardizabal’s quick kill put the Junior Tiger Spikers at 14-12 before the Bullpups saved match point courtesy of Eugine Gloria’s spike.
Poja then scored on a kill for UST to close out the two-hour, eight-minute contest.
The Bullpups are now 1-1 in five-setter matches and dropped to 3-2 overall in fourth spot.
Adamson University, meanwhile, made short work of Ateneo, 25-10, 25-12, 25-9, to stay within distance of NSNU with a 3-2 record in fifth place.
The Blue Eagles ended their first round stint with a 1-5 record.
Action resumes on Monday with the final day of first round at 8 a.m. at the same Manila venue.
