FEU ousts UST, faces NU in UAAP women’s volleyball stepladder semis

MANILA, Philippines—Far Eastern University won a third straight do-or-die match after nipping University of Santo Tomas, 25-21, 25-15, 20-25, 16-25, 15-6, to bag the remaining semifinals berth in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws used their solid blocking in the deciding frame to thwart the Tigresses’ attacks at the net and avert a huge collapse after winning the first two frames.

“Thank God, we survived the fifth set. We saw confidence in each other even though we are down, that’s why we were able to recover,” said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos in Filipino.

Bernadette Pons had 17 hits and 12 digs, Geneveve Casugod also had 17 points including five blocks, while rookie Heather Guino-o had a career-game of 17 points for the Lady Tamaraws.

FEU will now play third seed National University in the first step-ladder match, a knockout affair, on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The survivor will take on twice-to-beat De La Salle in the second step-ladder game.

It was the Tigresses’ third straight Final Four exit, as they failed to sustain the fightback led by rookie Cherry Rondina in the third and fourth set.

Pam Lastimosa had 19 points and six digs in her final game for UST, while Rondina and Ria Meneses tossed in 11 markers.

The Tigresses forced the game’s last deadlock at 2-2 before the Lady Tamaraws rediscovered the form that won the first two sets behind Pons to put the game beyond reach at 13-4.