UAAP volleyball: FEU withstands Casiey Dongallo, UE in five sets

FEU Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The trio of Gerzel Petallo, Chen Tagaod and Faida Bakanke powered Far Eastern University past a gritty University of the East side, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws bounced back from a sweep loss to La Salle even with Lady Warrior Casiey Dongallo delivering a record 30-point performance, the highest finish by a rookie in the league.

“The game was very hard-fought probably because both teams were coming off losses,” coach Manolo Refugia said in Filipino. “That’s why both teams wanted to get back from that, resulting in a good game. The emotions were high.”

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round

Petallo led FEU in the marathon match with 18 points built around 14 attacks, three blocks and an ace while also helping the defense with nine excellent digs and reception.

Tagaod, who exploded early in the final frame to help FEU widen the margin, added 16 points while Bakanke contributed 14 points.

FEU got its composure back to take control of the match in the second and third frames after dropping a neck-and-neck first set.

UE Lady Warriors’ Casiey Dongallo. –UAAP PHOTO

Kayce Balingit and Dongallo led UE’s comeback late in the fourth set to make it a match with both squads winning two games each.

READ: Casiey Dongallo eager to make UE a winner in UAAP volleyball

Balingit helped the Lady Warriors inch closer to FEU’s lead before rookie Dongallo brought it home for UE after scoring the last five points of the fourth set.

“Our composure was immediately broken from being focused on emotions. That’s probably why UE still got the fourth set,” Refugia said. “But going to the fifth set, we changed our mindset to what we should be doing so we eventually got it.”

The Lady Tamaraws had a 6-1 run to start the fifth set courtesy of UE’s errors and successfully read the Lady Warriors’ offense with Petallo and Bakanke combining to secure their second win of the season and improve to 2-1.

Mitzi Panangin also added 11 points of her own despite sitting out in the fifth set while Tin Ubaldo distributed the ball well with 23 excellent sets.

“We were raring to be better and give our best because we felt like we lacked in our last game so we really prepared and fixed what is needed,” he added.

“Firstly we needed to relax. What we did was just composure. We won’t lose anythong if we play the right way, if we give it all,” Petallo said.

Dongallo got her points all from attacks, lacing it with a game-high 12 excellent digs while Balingit contributed 16 points as UE dropped to a 1-2 standing after also losing to University of Santo Tomas previously.

FEU hopes to maintain its winning ways as it faces UST next on March 3 while UE will try to get better before meeting Adamson also on Sunday both in the same Pasay venue.