FEU survives Ateneo to stay in Final Four hunt
Published Apr 19, 2023 08:22 am
Far Eastern University needed an extra set to survive Ateneo, 25-21, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21, in the second round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday, April 19, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Lady Tamaraws held back the Blue Eagles from staging a comeback to stay in the running for the Final Four race and improved with an even 6-6 record in the standings.
Chenie Tagaod registered a team-high 15 points on 12 attacks, two service aces and a block, while Jov Fernandez added 12 points.
*Final Four-seeking FEU Lady Tamaws celebrate scoring a point against the now-eliminated Ateneo Blue Eagles. (UAAP Media)*
Down by three in the third set, 23-20, Gerzel Petallo and Jean Asis kept knocking on Ateneo’s door and pulled FEU within one. However, Joan Narit and Faith Nisperos sprung back into action for the Blue Eagles and denied the Lady Tamaraws a much-needed sweep. Just as FEU began to pull away midway through the fourth set, 20-15, Ateneo responded with 5-0 run of its own to put the match into a deadlock. For every Ateneo run, though, FEU quickly picked up itself courtesy of Petallo’s three straight points followed by an Asis block on Nisperos. Tin Ubaldo then iced the game with a service ace to give FEU a fighting chance for the Final Four. “Whatever the outcome, tinitingnan namin ‘yong two remaining games. Kung aabot kami and ano maging rank sa Final Four, blessing na ‘yon,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak. Ateneo, which missed out on the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, was paced by three players in double figures, with Nisperos putting up 20 points. Lyann De Guzman and Alexis Miner, for their parts, chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort. The Blue Eagles absorbed a 4-8 card in the standings, with two remaining games in the elimination round.
*Final Four-seeking FEU Lady Tamaws celebrate scoring a point against the now-eliminated Ateneo Blue Eagles. (UAAP Media)*
Down by three in the third set, 23-20, Gerzel Petallo and Jean Asis kept knocking on Ateneo’s door and pulled FEU within one. However, Joan Narit and Faith Nisperos sprung back into action for the Blue Eagles and denied the Lady Tamaraws a much-needed sweep. Just as FEU began to pull away midway through the fourth set, 20-15, Ateneo responded with 5-0 run of its own to put the match into a deadlock. For every Ateneo run, though, FEU quickly picked up itself courtesy of Petallo’s three straight points followed by an Asis block on Nisperos. Tin Ubaldo then iced the game with a service ace to give FEU a fighting chance for the Final Four. “Whatever the outcome, tinitingnan namin ‘yong two remaining games. Kung aabot kami and ano maging rank sa Final Four, blessing na ‘yon,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak. Ateneo, which missed out on the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, was paced by three players in double figures, with Nisperos putting up 20 points. Lyann De Guzman and Alexis Miner, for their parts, chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort. The Blue Eagles absorbed a 4-8 card in the standings, with two remaining games in the elimination round.