The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws cruise to a four-game winning streak after making quick work of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, 25-16, 25-22, 25-20, Saturday afternoon in front of a jampacked SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Aside from FEU’s chemistry as a team, head coach George Pascua credits their minimal errors as one of the reasons that propelled them to an impressive 5-2 slate.
“Achievement na sa amin itong 17 errors lang, sabi ko nga mabawasan lang errors namin madali na manalo. Nakaraan kasi di makatarungan errors namin,” he said.
What started as a close game in the first set eventually became a FEU show. From 11-9 with UST leading, a series of errors costed them the lead. Since then, the Lady Tamaraws pulled a scoring run with Bernadeth Pons sealing the set through a clever off speed attack, 25-16.
Just when FEU was dominating the second frame and just three points away from owning the set, 22-14, UST through Sisi Rondina and Carla Sandoval powered through to catch up and carry the Golden Tigresses within two points, 24-22. A long rally ensued and in an anti-climactic fashion, FEU secured their two set advantage after Rondina committed a net touch error.
By the third set, although UST managed to inch at 23-20, FEU took advantage of their error-prone opponents. Jeanette Villareal brought the game to match point with a block while Jerilli Malabanan finished the match with a service ace, 25-20.
The Golden Tigresses skid to their third straight loss and closed their first round campaign with a 2-5 record. Sandoval and Rondina paced them with 12 and 11 markers respectively.
FEU’s Chinchin Basas and Celine Domingo scored the most for the green-and-gold with eight points each. Pons and Kyle Negrito chipped in seven points each powering their team to an impressive 5-2 slate.
“Masaya kami natapos namin first round with five wins and dalawa lang talo and maganda pa laro namin. Nice finish sa first round pero wag kampante kasi may second round pa, seven games uli,” shared Pons.
The Scores:
FEU (3) – Basas 8, Domingo 8, Pons 7, Negrito 7, Guino-o 6, Malabanan 5, Villareal 3, Hernandez 2, Cayuna 0, Duremdes L, Atienza L
UST (0) – Sandoval 12, Rondina 11, Pacres 5, Viray 4, Francisco 4, Bicar 3, Palec 2, Bangad 0, Teope 0, Dizon L, Pollentes L
