FEU strengthens hold of 4th spot, beats UST

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University shook off rust to dispatch University of Santo Tomas, 20-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20, bolstering its hold for a spot in the Final Four in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday at San Juan Arena.

Jeanette Villareal capped off the Lady Tamaraws’ frantic 10-4 run in the fourth set with a quick hit down the middle to put FEU at match point, 24-18.

A couple of Carmela Tunay conversions would give the Golden Tigresses a glimmer of hope as they inched closer, 24-20, but Alina Bicar’s final attempt went to the restricted area.

FEU improved to 7-5, good for fourth place, while UST slipped to sixth seed with a 5-7 record.

Lady Tamaraws head coach Shaq Delos Santos said the team was still feeling the effects of the long break during Holy Week but they had to get back to work for the crucial set of games.

“Medyo may hang over pa sa bakasyon at naramdaman naming lahat yun,” Delos Santos said. “Pero pinag ensayuhan talaga namin, actually kailangan pang mag bakasyon nung mga bata pero stop na yun kasi crucial na itong game na ‘to.”

“Simula ngayon hanggang last two games.”

Bernadeth Pons had a game-high 20 points to lead FEU While Toni Rose Basas, Jerrili Malabanan, and Mary Joy Palma also finished in double-digits with 12, 11, and 10 points, respectively.

Cherry Ann Rondina led UST, which will now rely on the other teams to lose if to enter the Final Four, with 17 points while Tunay and EJ Laure added 11 points apiece.