UAAP: FEU outlasts NU, grabs solo 4th

FEU reacts during its five-set thriller against NU in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday, March 19, 2016, at Philsports Arena in Pasig. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University momentarily took solo fourth in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament as it squeezed past National University 27-25, 25-17, 22-25, 26-28, 15-10, Saturday at Philsports Arena.

Jaja Santiago tried to salvage the match for the Lady Bulldogs with a powerful middle hit, 14-10, but her next play saw her touch the net giving the Lady Tamaraws the win and a 6-5 record. 

FEU came into the match in a tie with NU and University of Santo Tomas. The Golden Tigresses have a chance to share the fourth spot with the Lady Tamaraws if they beat defending champion Ateneo later.

Lady Tams head coach Shaq Delos Santos said he expected the match to last longer than a three-set sweep especially with NU also eager to break into the Final Four discussion. 

“I expected a long match despite us winning the first two sets. The pressure and momentum swung and the complexion of the game changed,” Delos Santos said. “We’re happy to see the adjustments coming from the girls and they were able to show it. We lost the third and fourth set but we didn’t totally lose our focus.”

Bernadeth Pons fired on all cylinders for the Lady Tamaraws as she led them with a game-high 30 points while Toni Rose Basas and Jerrili Malabanan had 21 and 20 points, respectively.

FEU team captain Mary Palma would join the scoring party as she put up 13 of her own.

Santiago and Myla Pablo led the Lady Bulldogs (5-6) with 28 and 17 points, respectively.