UAAP: FEU Tamaraws claim last semis spot

Mark Calado. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Mark Calado poured in 25 points as Far Eastern University completed the stepladder semifinals cast with a 25-22, 25-14, 26-24 victory over also-ran Adamson in the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Calado had an efficient spiking performance, hitting 23 of his 31 attack attempts, and nailed two blocks to end their elimination round with two straight wins.

Jayjay Javelona, who scored 11 points, put the Tamaraws at match point, 24-22, but his attack error followed by Francis Casas’ crosscourt hit tied the third set for Adamson. However, Casas overcooked his attack before Calado ended the game with a strong back-row kill.

FEU finished the elimination round with an 8-6 record tied with La Salle. The two teams clash in the first stepladder match on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The winner will advance to the last round of the stepladder against UST in another knockout match for the right to face unbeaten Finalist National University (14-0) in a best-of-three championship series.

“It will be a tough path for us, to be honest. Every game is important because one loss will end our season,” said Calado in Filipino after tallying nine receptions and eight digs. “We will give our best and improve our lapses.”

FEU’s win shattered Ateneo’s Final Four hopes as the latter finished with a 7-7 record. 

The Tamaraws and the Green Spikers last met in the Final Four in 2013. La Salle beat FEU in the second round which sent the latter to its four-straight defeat.

“We will bring all the lessons we got from this journey. We went down but we worked hard to regain our place at the top,” said FEU coach Rei Diaz in Filipino. “We will bring our eagerness against La Salle.”

Adamson finished in seventh place with a 2-12 record in coach George Pascua’s first season.

Pau Paulino led the Falcons with 11 points, while Casas and Jude Aguilar added nine points each.

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