Far Eastern University survived a thrilling fourth-set rally from their first-round shock tormentor University of the Philippines on the way to a 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 26-24 victory in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Final Four race, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Tamaraws raced to a commanding 12-3 lead in the back-and-forth fourth set but the Fighting Maroons, through Kianne Olango’s attacks and Julia De Leon’s steady hands at the service line responded with a 17-4 run to even take a 20-16 advantage.
FEU retaliated, though, as Faida Bakanke, Chenie Tagaod, and Jazlyn Ellarina pushed their side to match point, 24-22.
UP had one last run in them as Irah Jaboneta and Kassy Doering made back-to-back hits to force a 24 all tie only for Olango to make a crucial attack error in the next play before Tin Ubaldo’s single block on Joan Monares sealed the deal.
“Para akong nanonood ng action tapos biglang drama, ang hirap para sa amin i-maintain ‘yung lead pero nakita ko ‘yung maturity ng players kung paano namin i-handle ‘yung behind four points. Very happy na nagkaroon kami ng ganoong turnout,” said FEU head coach Tina Salak.
The Lady Tamaraws elevated their record to 7-4, tying the UST Golden Tigresses for third and fourth spots. FEU, however, holds the tiebreak due to the win over the other rule.
This important victory that gave the NU Lady Bulldogs a Final Four ticket also pushed the fifth-running Fighting Maroons down to 5-6, two games behind the fourth spot.
UP extended the match to a fourth set after dominating the third, leading 19-8 due to the combined efforts of outside hitter Joan Monares and American middle blocker Kassy Doering.
Meantime, National University made swift work of also-ran Adamson University, 25-17, 25-16, 25-15, to secure at least a playoff for a Final Four spot in the men’s side.
The Bulldogs, four-time defending champions, raised their record to 9-2 with their third straight win, boosting their chances to reach the Final Four for a ninth straight season.
NU is two games above joint-third UST Golden Spikers and La Salle Green Spikers at 7-4.
The Bulldogs can clinch a spot in the semifinals with a win over the hapless UE Red Warriors on Wednesday, 9 a.m., at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
