S87 Women's Volleyball: FEU nips Ateneo in five sets

UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Standings
Team W-L
NU 4-0
UST 3-1
DLSU 2-2
FEU 2-2
AdU 2-2
UP 2-2
Ateneo 1-3
UE 0-4

Games on Wednesday
(SM Mall of Asia Arena)
10 a.m. - UE vs FEU (Men’s)
12 p.m. - UP vs UST (Men’s)
2 p.m. - UE vs FEU (Women’s)
4 p.m. - UP vs UST (Women’s)

Far Eastern University broke free from a two-game slump by surviving Ateneo de Manila University’s tough stand, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17, 24-26, 15-11, in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Sunday.

Knotted at nine in the decider, Tin Ubaldo and Faida Bakanke strung together four straight points including the latter’s back-to-back blocks on Ateneo main gunner Lyann de Guzman to establish a 13-9 advantage.

Bakanke then finished the match with a down-the-line hit for FEU’s second win in four outings after two hours and 25 minutes.

“Actually marami kaming adjustments. Very happy din that they performed, 'yun nga lang sabi ko nga dapat hindi kulang, dapat ready sila in case na ganito ang mangyari. Gusto pa namin pukpukin ‘yung mga ito na pagdating towards the second round ready na kami to fight back nga sa lahat ng nagiging struggles namin ngayon,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak.

Gerzel Petallo tied the fourth frame at 24 with a drop ball but De Guzman responded with a hit that grazed the hand of the defender, a point that was granted to the Blue Eagles after a successful block touch challenge, then Yvana Sulit sent the game to a final set with a service ace.

The Lady Tamaraws opened the season with a big time win over the UST Golden Tigresses but fell to the UP Fighting Maroons and the NU Lady Bulldogs.

With this win, FEU joined UP, De La Salle University, and Adamson University at joint-third with identical 2-2 records.

“Nag work hard po talaga kami sa training kasi one week po ‘yung preparation namin. Mahaba po ang preparation namin at pinagaralan po namin talaga sila kaya kumapit po kami hanggang dulo,” said Petallo, who contributed 18 points on 14 attacks and four blocks along with 14 receptions and nine digs.

Congolese opposite hitter Bakanke added 15 points - five of which she scored in the decider - while Mitzi Panangin stepped up with 11 points and scored six of FEU's 20 blocks.

The Lady Tamaraws, despite being outscored in the spiking department, 52-61, capitalized in the blocking category with a mammoth 18-point difference in blocks, with Panangin and Bakanke going for six and five blocks, respectively.

FEU will next face University of the East on Wednesday at the same bayside Pasay venue.

De Guzman made 23 points, 12 receptions and 11 digs but the Blue Eagles still slid to 1-3 at seventh.

Sobe Buena also tallied a triple-double line of 18 points, 13 receptions, and 12 digs, while AC Miner and Sulit got 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Up next for Ateneo is University of Santo Tomas next Sunday still at the MOA Arena.

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team