By NIKOLE JAVIER
Last year’s finalist National University is looking to avert a total collapse in its bid back to the championship series when it faces a resurgent Far Eastern University in the knockout match of their semis series in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball on Wednesday, May 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Given little chance or none at all, the Lady Tamaraws surprised everybody with a gutsy 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 win over No. 1 seed and twice-to-beat Lady Bulldogs last Friday.
That set up a mouth-watering showdown at 4 p.m. with the Lady Tamaraws chasing history.
Certainly, momentum has swung to FEU side after that stunning win, and the Lady Tamaraws are looking to become the first No. 4 seed to advance to the finals.
The winner will earn the right to face rampaging University of Santo Tomas in the finals beginning this week end.
The Lady Tamaraws, whose last title came in the 2007-08 season, last played in the championship round in 2018 when it lost to the La SallreLady Spikers in two matches.
The Golden Tigresses marched into the finals be dethroning the Lady Spikers in five grueling sets.
While the twice-two-beat UST side didn’t rely on its semifinal incentive, NU had used up all its resources and is down to its last chance of making it back to the final.
After coming off a rare second round sweep, the Lady Bulldogs saw their seven-game winning streak snap following a disappointing straight-set defeat at the hands of the Lady Tamaraws to drag them into a do-or-die match.
MVP candidate Bella Belen had a quiet 12-point performance and only came alive in the final stretch of the third set where it was already too late to do some saving.
Her NU co-star Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug had an even out-of-character outing as both wing spikers were limited to only eight markers apiece.
FEU, meanwhile, is now a win away from reaching the Final and getting a shot at a record 30th championship.
Under the guidance of new head coach Manolo Refugia, the Lady Tamaraws were initially just happy to secure a place in the Final Four and now they’re way past that accomplishment this season.
It was a complete opposite for the Morayta crew which displayed a balanced effort in the massive upset win.
With all hands on deck, playmaker Tin Ubaldo orchestrated the balanced offense with 16 excellent sets while also tallying six points to help the cause.
Seniors Chenie Tagaod, Jean Asis and Mitzi Panangin led the way for FEU in their bid to extend their stay in the competition.
It also didn’t help NU’s case that it committed 25 errors in the brief affair which gave away one set to FEU.
In the men’s action, defending champion NU tangles with La Salle at 12 noon to vie for its ninth straight Finals appearance.
In their virtual best-of-three showdown, the Bulldogs drew first blood after taking down La Salle in five sets to clinch the last twice-to-beat advantage.
Meanwhile, top-seeded FEU is seeking to avenge its nasty straight-set loss against UST in another rubber match at 2 p.m.
