UAAP: Lady Tamaraws compound Lady Warriors woes

FEU Lady Tamaraws. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University remained cool, calm, and collected as it dispatched the woeful University of the East, 25-13, 25-18, 25-21, sending the Lady Warriors to a 54th straight loss in the UAAP Season 78 Women’s Volleyball Tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

After head coach Shaq Delos Santos fielded his young reserves, team captain Mary Joy Palma took over in the last possession of the match with a booming attack down the middle to hand the Lady Tamaraws its fifth win in nine matches.

Delos Santos knew his team could hold on to their lead despite the Lady Warriors’ late 8-2 run and he took the chance to put his substitutes and rest his starters.

“Yung tiwala sa mga bata andun naman, alam namin kung paano sila gumalaw,” Delos Santos said. “Normal naman na nararamdaman nila na mag relax pero after that naka recover naman.”

“Kinausap ko lang sila nang maayos.”

Delos Santos pulled Palma, Bernadeth Pons, Toni Rose Basas, and Jerrili Malabanan late in the third set to allow Kyle Negrito, Via Bal, Carlota Hernandez, and Maria Cayuna to expose themselves in a closing situation.

“Kailangan ma expose mga reserve namin, alam naming medyo ganun mangyayari, pero syempre kailangan iparamdam sa mga bata maglaro ng UAAP.”

Pons had a game-high 19 points, 18 of which came off spikes, for FEU while Basas and Malabanan had nine and eight points, respectively.

Shaya Adorador had 11 points for the Lady Warriors, who hasn’t won in nine outings.