Shakey’s Super League: FEU, La Salle complete eliminations sweep

Alyzza Devosora and Margaret Encarnacion of FEU Lady Tamaraws during a 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship game. –AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University and La Salle completed a perfect 6-0 campaign in the elimination round after beating separate foes in the second round of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Wednesday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.          

FEU overcame the University of the Philippines’ gallant stand, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13, to secure the top place in Pool F.

Faida Bakanke broke the 9-9 tie in the fifth set before Chenie scored two of the Lady Tamaraws’ next three points to reach match point, 14-11. Instead of wrapping it up, they committed two errors in a row before Gerz Petallo ended the game with a solid crosscourt kill.

READ: FEU, La Salle stay unbeaten in Shakey’s Super League

Bakanke scored four of her 16 points in the fifth set. Jazlyn Ellarina had 13  points highlighted by 12 attacks while Petallo and Tagaod added 12 and five points, respectively.

FEU, holding a twice-to-beat edge, battles College of Saint Benilde in the quarterfinals starting on Sunday.

UP leaned on super rookie Kianne Olango, who finished with 15 points. Irah Jaboneta chipped in 13 points, while Kassandra Doering and Yesha Noceja had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Fighting Maroons will face the twice-to-beat defending champion National University, which finished second in Pool E.

READ: Shakey’s Super League: NU off to winning start, Arellano goes 2-0

Meanwhile, La Salle completed its preliminaries sweep after beating NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde,  25-13, 25-23, 25-16.

Lilay Del Castillo led the Lady Spikers with 10 points including four blocks for a perfect 6-0 record and sealed the top seed in Pool E.

La Salle, armed with a twice-to-beat,  battles rival Ateneo in the knockout stage.

SITTING DUCKS. Gracen Fernandez of UE try to save the ball off the NU Lady Bulldogs during a 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship game. NU beat UE in three sets. –AUGUST DELA CRUZ/INQUIRER

Earlier, NU secured the last quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage in Pool E after an emphatic sweep of University of the East, 25-14, 25-20, 25-17, after turning to the veteran trio of reigning Most Valuable Player Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, and Vange Alinsug.

“The system of Coach Sherwin (Meneses) is gradually becoming more stable, so we’re adapting better, allowing us to execute our preparations well,” said NU assistant coach Karl Dimaculangan, who called the shots for the squad with mentor Sherwin Meneses still in Taiwan for a prior commitment.

Solomon finished with 11 points. Belen fired five aces to finish with 11 points, while Alinsug scored eight of her 10 points in the third set.

KC Cepada scored nine points, Jelai Gajero added four markers while Casiey Dongallo was held to a personal-low one point after only playing in the third set as UE wrapped the second round with a 1-2 card.

The Lady Warriors battle the twice-to-beat University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in the quarterfinals.