Lady Tamaraws sweep ‘B’ elims

TONI Rose Basas of Far Eastern University fails to score against University of Philippines’ Justine Dorog (left) and Diana Mae Carlos during their Shakey’s V-League match yesterday. sherwin vardeleon

WHEN pushed to the limit, Far Eastern University showed that it only gets better.

The Lady Tamaraws—who rose from 10 points down in the first set—again showed resilience when it mattered to repulse University of the Philippines, 27-25, 25-22, 18-25, 23-25, 15-8, and complete an elimination sweep in the Shakey’s
V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference yesterday at Filoil Flying V Centre.

“I told the players to just be patient,” said FEU deputy coach Shaq delos Santos after his Lady Tamaraws controlled the deciding set on the way to topping Group B with a 4-0 record.

Also playing tough, Ateneo kept its quarterfinal hopes alive after pinning on National University its first loss, 25-15, 27-25, 25-17 in the nightcap.

Michelle Morente dropped 20 points in the surprise sweep as the Lady Eagles tied idle Technological Institute of the Philippines at 2-2 to forge a playoff for the last quarterfinal slot.

The Ateneo-TIP knockout battle is set at 6 p.m., right after NU and UST kick off the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. at Philsports Arena tomorrow.

The Lady Tamaraws’ first-set comeback, where they fell behind 11-21 but still won the set at 27-25, seemed to have help them dig deep again when the Lady Maroons forged a deciding frame.

Toni Rose Basas and Bernadeth Pons took charge in the fifth set, which the Lady Tamaraws commanded all the way after a 4-0 start.

“We just trusted each other,” said Basas, who fired 22 of her game-high 24 points off attacks to pace the Lady Tamaraws.

Remy Palma also scored 15 for the Lady Tamaraws, while Pons and Jerrili Malabanan combined for 21 points.

The Lady Maroons, who slipped to
3-1, failed to capitalize on their momentum after coming back from a 0-2 set deficit to forge a decider behind Isa Molde and Diana Carlos

A spate of errors, including the match’s last three points, doomed the Lady Maroons.
Ateneo had it easier in men’s action as the Blue Eagles drubbed University of Santo Tomas, 25-16, 25-15, 25-21, to secure at least a semifinal playoff in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference.

Marck Espejo, Alexis Villanueva and Ysay Marasigan teamed up for 22 points to lead the Eagles, who stayed unbeaten in Group B with a 4-0 record.

National University also turned back St. Benilde, 25-16, 24-26, 25-11, 25-21, to improve to 3-1 in Group A.

Bryan Bagunas and Madzlan Gampong unloaded 21 points each to power the Bulldogs.