Replicating their Season 77 run, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws nailed their third straight do-or-die match, eliminating the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 25-16, 25-16, 27-25, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
After going down to UST and slumping to a 5-6 record, the Lady Tamaraws knew they had to thread a needle to get the Final Four. FEU not only threaded the needle, they broke the needle entirely.
Against UP, the Lady Tamaraws were dominant through the first two sets, pounding the Lady Maroons’ error-prone reception and floor defense.
The third set had UP make one last stand, erasing a 24-21 FEU lead to force a deuce. UP, however, shot themselves in the foot as they gave up errors every time they forced a tie. Graduating open hitter Nicole Tiamzon put the final nail in the coffin with a net touch after an attack attempt.
UP gave up 25 errors and won no scoring skill. The Lady Tamaraws poured in 12 aces to UP’s four.
Toni Rose Basas and Bernadeth Pons each tallied 12 points, while Heather Guino-O had 11.
“Ang ine-expect ko talagang didikit yung laban kasi do or die talaga eh. Knowing din UP, yung performance nila, alam namin na ‘pag naglaro sila ng all-out mahihirapan talaga kami,” said FEU head coach Shaq Delos Santos who led FEU to their third straight Final Four.
“Pero good thing, mas nag-perform ang team namin ng first two sets. Noong third set, good thing naka-recover kami. Sobrang proud kami sa players namin,” the second-year mentor added.
FEU, regardless of the outcome Saturday’s National University–University of Santo Tomas tilt, will take their seat in the Final Four thanks to their superior quotient. If UST wins, the Tigresses get the third seed while FEU get fourth. If UST loses, FEU get the third seed, while NU and UST will play for the last seed.
Sophomore Diana Carlos led UP with 13 points. Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola combined for 15 points in their last match for the Lady Maroons.
The Scores
FEU (3) – Basas 12, Pons 12, Guino-O 11, Palma 10, Negrito 3, Atienza 2, Villareal 2, Duremdes (L)
UP (0) – Carlos 13, Molde 8, Tiamzon 8, Bersola 7, Gannaban 2, Ramos 1, Buitre 0, Cailing 0, Estrañero 0, Dorog (L)
