FEU sweeps NU for V-League crown

THE FEU Lady Tamaraws whoop it up after nailing their first V-League title. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University completed a series title sweep with an emphatic straight-set romp of National University Sunday in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

After scrambling to reach the quarterfinals and overcoming a 0-1 deficit in the semifinals, the Lady Tamaraws finished off the heavily favored Lady Bulldogs, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18, in Game 2 of their best-of-three championship duel.

“It’s unexpected,” said coach Shaq delos Santos as FEU nailed its first title in the league. “But our team was consistent and played with a high morale. Even if we were up against taller opponents, our players gave their best.”

Rachel Anne Daquis bagged the Finals Most Valuable Player after another sterling performance that powered the Lady Tamaraws to a sweep of the Lady Bulldogs, the defending champions who marched into the Finals with only a single loss.

Daquis unloaded 15 points built on 12 kills and three blocks, while Bernadette Pons, who teamed up with Mary Palma for six of FEU’s 10 service aces, finished with 13 points.

“It was all about teamwork,” said Jovelyn Gonzaga, who teamed up with Daquis as FEU rallied from early deficits in the first two sets. “Our younger players proved to be competitors.”

Gonzaga added 11 points capped by the match-clinching smash in a dominating third set where the Lady Tamaraws zoomed to a 20-13 advantage.

Earlier, Thai reinforcement Pacharee Sangmuang topscored with 14 as Adamson secured third place with a masterful 25-15, 25-18, 25-22 victory over University of Santo Tomas. With a report from Paul Kennedy A. Lintag, Contributor