Ivana Agudo rises to the challenge for Lady Tamaraws

MANILA, Philippines—Far Eastern University needed someone to fill in the void injured star Lycha Ebon left and fortunately for the Lady Tamaraws Ivana Agudo heeded the call.

Agudo showed true guts in leading the Lady Tamaraws in the deciding set against University of the East, helping them to salvage the 25-15, 16-25, 12-25, 25-22, 17-15 victory Saturday in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.

“This is a big thing for me because my Ates needed help, so for I told myself that I needed to step up,” said Agudo in Filipino Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

It was a virtual slugfest between FEU and UE with no team taking a three-point lead early in the fifth set.

Agudo then took over for the Lady Tamaraws first giving them an 11-8 lead with a two-handed dump just before a crosscourt kill that nearly landed beyond the sideline for FEU’s 12-8 buffer.

“I just told myself that even if I don’t produce points, I will help in other ways and I didn’t expect that I will be doing this so I’m really happy,” said Agudo who finished with 12 points to lead the Lady Tamaraws to a 6-3 record that tied them with University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle at the second seed.

FEU captain Jerrili Malabanan would finish everything off scoring FEU’s final two points of the game.

“Like Ivana said, her performance was unexpected, but we knew that she could help and provide for us when we’re one man down,” said Malabanan who had 11 points. “I’m really proud of the way she performed today.”