INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines--Far Eastern U firmed up its grip of second place with a come-from-behind 20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-13 walloping of La Salle Saturday in the men?s volleyball tournament of the 72nd UAAP season at the Flying V Arena.

The Tamaraws, who improved to 10-2, needed 76 minutes to dispose of the Archers, who fell to 7-6 in a tie for third with Ateneo.

Nestor Molate fired 19 hits and Rodolfo Labrador pumped in 17 for the Tamaraws, who are half a game behind pacesetter University of Santo Tomas (10-1).

The Eagles earlier dumped the University of the Philippines Maroons, 25-23, 29-27, 23-25, 25-20.

In women?s play, Adamson kept in step with Ateneo in the chase for the No. 3 seed in the final four by rallying past UP, 21-25, 25-9, 25-13, 25-14, behind 23 points from Paulina Soriano.

Angela Benting and Jill Gustilo combined for 25 hits for the Lady Falcons, who moved within a victory of third-ranked Ateneo by improving to 8-4.

Ateneo breezed past University of the East, 25-16, 27-25, 25-17, for its ninth win in 13 games.

Angeline Gervacio finished with 17 hits, while Fille Cainglet added 11 as the Lady Eagles posted their second win in a row.

Meanwhile, UST seeks to continue its awesome form when it battles cellar dweller La Salle at the start of the second round of men?s football at the Erenchun Field inside the Ateneo campus.

The Golden Booters, who finished the first round with 13 points on four wins and a draw, are favored to prevail in the 10 p.m. duel. UE and last year?s losing finalist FEU collide at 1 p.m., before Ateneo, running fourth with six points, tackles defending champion UP, which got off to a slow start winning just three of its first five games.