Far Eastern University-Diliman secured the second spot in the UAAP Season 86 High School Girls’ Volleyball tournament Final Four following a 25-10, 25-10, 25-10 domination of University of the Philippines Integrated School on Thursday at the Adamson Gym in Ermita, Manila.
The victory allowed the Lady Baby Tamaraws, who are now at 7-3, to join the league leader Adamson University in the next round.
Adamson University extended its streak to 10 this season and moved two wins away from gaining an outright Finals berth with a quick work of also-ran Ateneo, 25-6, 25-12, 25-5.
Setter Princess Tumayao steered the offense for FEU-D, taking the reins from Christine Ramos, to keep UPIS at bay in the middle part of the three frames of play.
Errors from the Lady Baby Tamaraws, especially at the onset of the first and third sets, gave a lease for life for Fighting Maroons. It also provided confidence to the latter’s attackers led by captain Janella Guarino.
“Siguro, ‘yung consistency talaga ‘yung gusto naming makita sa girls moving forward,” FEU-D head coach RJ del Rosario said.”Yung galaw nga mga bata, kailangang ma-polish pa namin para sa Final Four rin. Ready naman kami kahit sinong makalaban.
“Yung fighting spirit, isa rin sa gusto kong madevelop pa nila. Tapos ‘yung communication and coordination nila sa loob ng court; ‘yun ang kailangan namin.”
With more clinical movement in the latter part of the third and final set, Tumayao found her points of attack.
Middle blocker Clarisse Loresco scored on two of the FEU-D’s closing three points – one from a differential play and one from the center.
That sealed the squad’s Final Four spot.
UPIS remained winless in ten matches for seventh place.
In the other match, Celine Marsh and National University Nazareth School did their part of the bargain in the Final Four race with a 25-12, 25-10, 25-17 sweep of its closest pursuer De La Salle Santiago Zobel School.
The Season 85 Second Best Outside Hitter and the rest of the Bullpups needed to fend off the gritty fight from the Junior Lady Spikers in the final set. Back-to-back blocks from Cheska Peñol and Kianne Olango extended the lead to 20-13.
The struggling titleholders found their finishing blow to take this crucial, bounce-back win.
“Yung dalawang losses namin against Adamson, accepted na namin ‘yon. Kumbaga, paano na lang namin i-fill ‘yung kulang namin. And we need to take these oppotunities para maka-angat pa kami possibly to number two,” NUNS head coach Norman Miguel said.
“Important ‘tong panalo na ‘to. Confident naman kami na kaya nilang umabot hanggang dulo, pero for now, kailangan naming isa-isahin ‘yong mga games. One game at a time muna kami: next is UP, then Ateneo, then ‘yung UST na importante for placing.”
The Lady Bullpups needed to overcome slow starts in all three sets played, including that third set where they needed to recover from an early 0-4 deficit.
Bienne Bansil, and then later Harlyn Serneche, took advantage of the errant reception from the Junior Lady Spikers to consequently pull off the wins for the 2 sets-0 advantage.
The Lady Baby Falcons moved two wins from an outright Finals berth ahead all thanks to the consistency of the squad in executing the game plan whoever was on the floor.
Opposite Mishka Estrada provided the firepower for Felcitiy Sagaysay’s plays, with middle blocker Angel Del Moral giving the support both on offense and defense.
