Lady Tamaraws send Lady Maroons to two-game skid

After a rough start to Season 79, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws scored their third straight impressive win, out-muscling the suddenly-slumping University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 25-17, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

FEU opened the match at full throttle, pounding UP’s lackadaisical service reception and floor defense. After easily winning the first set, FEU then erased a five-point second set UP lead and took a 23-20 advantage. The Lady Maroons looked in trouble as, at that exact point, UP open hitter Nicole Tiamzon suffered a right ankle injury that took her out for the rest of the game. The Lady Tamaraws, however, failed to take advantage, as UP won six of the last seven points with substitute Caryl Sandoval in the lineup.

Using a different setter and second open hitter in the third set, FEU fought off the Lady Maroons, with Bernadeth Pons scoring crucial points to bring FEU to set point, 24-22. Team captain Remy Palma capped the set with a powerful running hit. Deflated, the Lady Maroons succumbed to an early seven-point FEU lead, 13-6, and failed to comeback.

“Masaya kami, especially kaming mga coaches kasi lumalabas ‘yung pag-push namin sa mga players sa ensayo. Pero siyempre, kailangan pa namin ‘to pagpatuloy kasi may laban pa kaming natitira on Sunday,” said FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos.

Bernadeth Pons put together another phenomenal statline, scoring 24 points, while digging 23 hits and receiving 14 serves excellently. Remy Palma and Toni Basas each tallied 11 points apiece.

FEU now sit at third place with a 4-2 record. They face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses (3-3) on Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Sophomore Diana Carlos was the only Lady Maroon in double-digits with 17 points. She also had 27 digs.

UP (4-2) next face the National University Lady Bulldogs (3-2) on Sunday, also at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Scores

FEU (3) – Pons 24, Basas 11, Palma 11, Guino-O 6, Villareal 6, Cayuna 5, Malabanan 5, Negrito 1, Hernandez 0, Duremdes (L)

UP (1) – Carlos 17, Molde 11, Buitre 8, Sandoval 8, Gannaban 4, Tiamzon 4, Estrañero 2, Basarte 1, Bersola 1, Dorog (L), Gaiser (L)