FEU boosts Final Four bid, turns back UP

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University strengthened its Final Four chances after beating University of the Philippines, 21-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-22, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Lady Tamaraws rose to 7-4 and claimed sole possession of the fourth spot while the Lady Maroons dropped to a dangerous 3-8.

UP still has a mathematical chance of entering the semifinals but will need the other teams to lose their remaining games.

FEU squandered its five-point lead, 18-13, late in the fourth set after it allowed UP to get to as close as 19-18 after Bernadeth Pons couldn’t get her spike attempt over.

Pons atoned for her earlier mistake, scoring an off-the-block kill for the Lady Tamaraws’ 23-20 lead before Jeanette Villareal denied Diana Carlos for FEU’s 24-20 match point.

FEU head coach George Pascua said they can’t afford to slow down one bit especially with his team’s Final Four spot within arm’s reach.

“We still have some work to do because we use a different system for every game,” said Pascua in Filipino. “The players’ mindset should be consistent. The only thing we didn’t do today is start strong, if we can do that wins can come easier for us.”

Although UP scored two consecutive points to trim the lead to two, 24-22, Villareal once again found an opportunity with a running spike to finish off the Lady Maroons.

Pons and Villareal had 15 points apiece to lead the Lady Tamaraws while Celine Domingo and Toni Rose Basas added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Carlos had a game-high 23 points to lead the Lady Maroons while scoring partner Isa Molde finished with 18.