FEU survives UE scare, triumphs in four sets

MANILA, Philippines—They have lost the battle but not the war.

After giving the University of the East Lady Warriors their first victorious set of season 77 of the UAAP, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws regrouped to their phalanx for a 3-1 win, 25-16, 25-17, 22-25, 25-18, at the Arena in San Juan Saturday afternoon.

It was the Lady Warriors’ own handiwork that  led to their ninth loss in nine games when Michelle Manansala’s attack went erroneous.

With the victory, FEU notched a 4-4 win-loss card and tied with the University of the Philippines for fourth place.

FEU head coach Shaq delos Santos said the surprise set win of UE was due to their lack of maturity which resulted in their unstable game.

“We had an on-and-off game, my team is young and we lack maturity,” Delos Santos said. “But we’re giving a fight.”

He added his team needed to improve their game especially in the second round where the positioning battles get more crucial.

Even after securing the matchpoint at 24-15, the Lady Tamaraws allowed the Lady Warriors to take aim and score three consecutive points, 24-18, with Angelica Dacaymat’s attack bouncing off the FEU wall.

UE’s chances, however, went all for naught as their error finished it off.

Their third set, however, was one period that gave them euphoria especially for substitute Laizah Bendong who scored an ace, her only point, to salvage their first set win.

Bernadeth Pons led FEU with 14 points, 12 coming off attacks, while Mary Palma added 11 points of her own.

Shaya Adorador led all scorers with 14 points while her fellow Lady Warrior Dacaymat added 13.