Far Eastern University took down Adamson, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20, in the battle of unbeaten squads for a flying start in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship playoffs Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Faida Bakanke and Gerzel Petallo teamed up in the clutch as the Lady Tamaraws thwarted the Lady Falcons in each of the air-tight sets to complete sweep in 85 minutes and post a 1-0 record in Pool F.
Bakanke dropped 11 points on nine hits, a block and an ace while Petallo hammered all her 10 points on attacks in FEU’s fourth win in as many games in 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.
Eight more players racked up the scoring board led by Mitzi Panangin with eight points for the wards of deputy mentor Manolo Refugia.
“Naniwala lang po ako na mananalo kami. Doon po nag-start ‘yung confidence ko. Magtiwala lang sa sarili at sa team,” said Petallo, who delivered the match-sealing attack.
The Lady Tamaraws, who swept Pool D with wins over Ateneo, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Mapua, anticipated a back-and-forth showdown with the Lady Falcons but surprisingly emerged triumphant in straight sets – thanks to the duo of Bakanke and Petallo.
Bakanke anchored FEU’s 5-0 closeout with a thunderous crosscourt kill in the first set before coming through a crisp kill anew in the second that gave them a comfortable 23-19 lead.
Petallo took her turn in the clincher, spearheading the Lady Tamaraws’ runaway from a 15-all highlighted by a long attack that fell just right at the backline of the Lady Falcons’ defense for the win.
FEU clashes next against back-to-back NCAA champion College of St. Benilde next Saturday in an attempt to zero in on the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals.
