MANILA – Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws relied on their experience in the fifth set to secure a 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11 victory over the University of the East Lady Warriors in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The triumph propelled the Lady Tamaraws to a 2-1 record in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament, while the Lady Warriors suffered their second consecutive loss, settling for a 1-2 card.
In the fifth set, after a closely contested fourth set that went 25-27 in favor of the Lady Warriors, the Lady Tamaraws capitalized on four consecutive errors by UE to take a commanding 7-2 lead.
Despite the Lady Warriors mounting a comeback and narrowing the gap to 11–12, Faida Bakanke and Chenie Tagaod teamed up to secure three consecutive points for the Lady Tamaraws, closing out the game.
“Naging hard ‘yung game gawa ng both teams galing sa talo, gustong parehong bumawi kaya ayun naging maganda ‘yung laban, mataas ‘yung emosyon,” said FEU head coach Manolo Refugia.
Gerzel Petallo led the way for the Lady Tamaraws with 18 points to go with nine digs and nine receptions; Tagaod finished with 16 points, while Bakanke added 14 points in the victory.
“It pays off po lahat ng pinag-trainingan namin kasi pinaghahandaan talaga namin lahat ng mga games namin, so medyo overwhelmed po kasi nagawa namin ‘yun. We did our best talaga,” said Petallo.
Rookie Casiey Dongallo unloaded a career-high of 30 points to go with 12 excellent digs and six excellent receptions, while Kayce Balingit contributed 16 markers for the Lady Warriors.
Meanwhile, National University Lady Bulldogs clawed back from a set down to beat Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 25-17, 24-26, 26-28, 25-19, 15-7. Mhicaela Belen top-scored for the Lady Bulldogs with 21 points.
Adamson University Lady Falcons tied the Lady Bulldogs at 1-1 after a 25-22, 25-22, 28-26 victory over University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, which dropped to a same 0-2 record as the Blue Eagles./PN
