V-League: Meralco survives FEU surge

MANILA, Philippines — Meralco needed to stave off a scare by a resilient Far Eastern University side to win, 25-12, 25-22, 18-25, 23-25, 15-13, in the Shakey’s V-League Open Conference Tuesday night at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Chinese import Wang Coco asserted her height with 23 points, including a block and a running spike that clinched the Power Spikers’ second win in three outings.

“Medyo hesitant pa mga bata. Hats off to FEU. Nagdala sa amin yung tapang ng team,” said Meralco coach Oliver Almadro. “Basically, talagang matiyaga ang FEU. We still need to adjust. Yung doubt nandoon pa din.”

Meralco looked well on its way to an easy win before FEU, playing with nothing to lose, battled back behind prized recruit Bernadeth Pons.

Pons, who led the Lady Tamaraws with 20 points on kills, came through in the crucial stages of the third and fourth set that helped her team to forge a deciding set.

But Pons couldn’t completely pull FEU out as her attempt got denied by the towering Wang as Meralco moved to within match point, 14-13.

Maureen Penetrante-Ouano and Maica Morada chipped in 14 and 11 points respectively.

The Lady Tams, who dropped to 0-2, got into their groove early in the third set where they led by as much as nine, 18-9.