Far Eastern U completed a sweep of Adamson with a feisty 25-18, 16-25, 25-15, 21-25, 15-7 win in Game 2 to bag the bronze medal in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

It’s the same scenario – and the same results – for the Lady Tamaraws in earning another gutsy win in two hours and 16 minutes after running away with an identical five-setter victory in Game 1.

FEU wasted a 2-0 set lead in Game 1 and this time around relinquished a 2-1 upperhand before flaunting steely resolve anew for a 2-0 series sweep in the battle for third place of the SSL Season 2 backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc.  

Super rookie Faida Bakanke unleashed 16 points on 12 hits, two blocks and two aces to show the way for the Lady Tamaraws in their breakthrough SSL podium finish after a quarterfinal exit in the inaugural season.

Gerzel Petallo was also instrumental in finishing with 15 points on 13 attacks and two blocks highlighted by multiple clutch hits in the clincher while Game 1 hero Chenie Tagaod was steady with 12 points.

“Another five sets but a win is a win. Maganda ‘yung naging resulta ng preseason namin (with this bronze medal) papunta sa UAAP. Na-test ‘yung kakayahan ng team namin sa ganitong liga,” said FEU interim mentor Manolo Refugia.

“Hindi lang kami ‘yung nag-gain pati ‘yung ibang teams preparing for their mother leagues. I commend our team kasi although a down kami nakapag-adjust kami. Maganda yung composure na ipinakita nila. It’s a good sign para sa team.”

Like swords forged by fire, the charging Tamaraws and the high-flying Lady Falcons went toe-to-toe in another classic, back-and-forth duel after four sets but the former displayed steadier drive down the wire.

FEU, which escaped a 25-20, 25-19, 12-25, 14-25, 15-12 win in Game 1, unloaded a searing 8-1 rally in the decider to turn an early 1-4 deficit to a sudden 9-5 lead that pretty much served as the telling blow in the tightrope contest.

There was no looking back for the Lady Tamaraws from then on, capping off a 14-3 closeout to bag the third place in the SSL Season 2 in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Red Bascon and team captain Lucille Almonted had 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Adamson in its second straight SSL semis finish after taking home the bronze medal in Season 1.

Reigning champion National U and University of Santo Tomas were still clashing as of press time in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals for the Lady Bulldogs’ potential second straight title sweep.

NU took Game 1, 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-17, to stay unbeaten in 17 games since sweeping the inaugural season against La Salle and another triumph this time against a different challenger would usher in an SSL dynasty.

All SSL Season 2 games are accessible across all platforms live and on-demand through the social media pages of Plus Network and SSL with Solar Sports, Blast TV and Aliw Channel 23 as TV partners.