MANILA – Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws opened its UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball campaign with a 25-19, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20 victory over University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Gerzel Petallo finished with 15 points, on eight attacks, five blocks, and two service aces, to be named Player of the Game as the Lady Tamaraws tied the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons with a 1-0 win-loss slate.
The Lady Tamaraws set the tone with a 25-19 first set victory behind Faida Bakanke and Mitzi Panangin, but the Golden Tigresses bounced back in the second set with a 25-16 rout to tie the set score at 1-1.
FEU regained their offense in the third set with a 13-4 start behind connections from Petallo, Jaz Ellarina, and Bakanke. Multiple errors on the Golden Tigresses side allowed the Lady Tamaraws to increase the lead further to double-digits for a 2-1 set edge.
Both teams were engaged in a tight battle early in the fourth set with the score tied at 19-all before the Lady Tamaraws leaned on the exploits of Ellarina down the stretch to seal the win.
“Having an intact lineup this season, gusto ko ma-maximize ‘yung time nila this year kasi we never know, baka amin itong season na ito,” said returning Lady Tamaraws mentor Christina Salak.
In the first game, the Fighting Maroons overcame a tough stand by University of the East Lady Warriors for a 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 13-25, 15-13 victory.
Negrense Joan Marie Monares top-scored for the Fighting Maroons with 17 points, including 16 attacks, to go with 11 excellent digs, while rookie Kianne Louise Olango added 15 markers.
After failing to close out the gutsy Lady Warriors in the third and fourth sets, the Fighting Maroons capitalized on UE’s early errors in the fifth set, followed by attacks from Olango for a 9-3 start.
The Lady Warriors mounted a huge run to tie the score at 13-all before Dannica Celis and Niña Ytang responded with back-to-back hits to clinch the victory for the Fighting Maroons./PN
