Lady Tams take first of 2 tries to nail semis slot

RUTHLESS in its last outing, Far Eastern University hopes to sustain the intensity as it goes for the first of two attempts to nail a semifinal berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

But the Lady Tamaraws need to get past crack opponents, starting with the unbeaten Ateneo in the crucial 12:45 p.m. match.

“Our next games are tough, but I think we’re starting to play as a team,” said FEU coach Shaq Delos Santos.

The Lady Tamaraws wrap up their quarterfinal stint versus University of Santo Tomas next week.

Arellano, still outside the top four with a 2-3 card, plays a must-win game versus De La Salle-Dasmariñas at 3 p.m. to stay in the hunt.

Last week, the Lady Tamaraws dealt the Lady Patriots a heavy beating, 25-7, 25-11, 25-11, to forge a three-way tie for second at 4-1 and book at least a playoff for a semifinal slot.

Delos Santos hopes the Lady Tamaraws can finish the round strong as standouts Jovelyn Gonzaga, Bernadeth Pons, Toni Rose Basas and Mary Joy Palma have been playing more cohesively.

The Lady Tamaraws, though, can’t expect the Lady Eagles to take it easy even if the UAAP champions already clinched the first semifinal berth with a 5-0 record.

Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez said the Lady Eagles—despite sweeping the NCAA champion Lady Chiefs, 25-14, 25-17, 25-19, last week— have been error-prone lately.

“We have errors in our service and reception that we can still polish,” said Valdez as the Lady Eagles try to keep the solo lead.

The Lady Chiefs, meanwhile, try to stay alive against the eliminated Lady Patriots with Menchie Tubiera, Danna Henson, Christine Joy Rosario and guest player Carmina Aganon.