FEU grounds Ateneo, clinches V-league top seed

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

Far Eastern University jumpstarted its journey to the semifinal stages of the Shakey’s V-League Collegiate Conference dropping Ateneo in three sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws enter the Final Four as the top seed with a record of 4-1 while Ateneo will go through a knockout playoff against San Sebastian to see who will advance.

FEU had a steady 21-13 lead in the third set but the Lady Eagles mustered a brief comeback and cut the deficit to 23-21.

Heather Guino-o, however, would not be denied as she gave the Lady Tamaraws their match point and team captain Remy Palma finished it all off with a service ace that cut the heartstrings of the Lady Eagles.

It was the first win of FEU over Ateneo in almost four years, in any competition, and head coach Shaq Delos Santos gave his team the message of urgency.

“Yun ang pinag-usapan namin nung Monday pa, kailangan kung gusto nilang talunin [ang Ateneo] ay simulan na ngayong araw, and binigay naman sa amin ni Lord kaya thankful kami,” said Delos Santos.

“Hindi lang physical ginawa naming pagpa-pa-kondisyon, yung mind din nila kailangan mag perform nang mabuti.”

Palma and Toni Rose Basas led FEU with 13 points apiece while Bernadeth Pons added 10.

Ana Gopico led Ateneo with nine points.