FEU didn’t play its best in four-set win over UE, says coach

Far Eastern University head coach George Pascua said that his players did show a little bit of mercy when they beat University of the East in four sets in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament.

It might have been that middle blocker Celine Domingo used to don the red of the Lady Warriors, but skipper Bernadeth Pons echoed her mentor’s words.

Pons admitted what they displayed in their victory over UE, 25-20, 25-17, 24-26, 25-22, wasn’t their best and they vow to do better in the future games.

“We all know that the way we played wasn’t in the level on what we are capable of,” said Pons in Filipino Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre. “We weren’t at one hundred percent there, coach said that it was just 60 percent.”

The 0-6 Lady Warriors, who played their first game without beleaguered former head coach Francis Vicente, managed to steal the third set to prevent a sweep.

“We have to explain to each other that we have to give it all especially in our future games,” added Pons as she finished with 21 points.

As for Domingo, putting up 19 points and scoring off six blocks was a testament that she’s happy with her current situation with the Lady Tamaraws as they improved to 3-2 in the standings.

“It’s quite challenging because I was thinking that I used to play with these girls in front of me, I was with them two years ago,” said Domingo in Filipino. “So what I did is play, do my part, and show that I am happy here in FEU.”

Domingo was vital in the clutch for FEU, first denying Mary Ann Mendrez for the Lady Tamaraws’ 23-19 lead in the fourth before scoring an off-balanced kill for her team’s 24-21 match point.