UAAP: FEU stays in thick of Final Four fight with win over UP

FEU Lady Tamaraws celebrate during a victory over UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.–UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Far Eastern University held off feisty University of the Philippines on Sunday, pulling out a 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 26-24 triumph in the UAAP season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.

The Lady Tamaraws got back at their first round tormentors at Smart Araneta Coliseum behind the heroics of Faida Bakanke, who starred with 20 points built on 17 attacks and three blocks.

The victory hiked the Morayta squad’s record to 7-4 overall, and put themselves back alongside neighboring University of Santo Tomas who are touting an identical record while muddying up the Final Four picture.

READ: UAAP: Alyssa Solomon powers NU bounce-back win over FEU

Interestingly, FEU’s conquest of the dangerous Fighting Maroons helped defending champion National University tab the first of those four spots into the semifinals.

The Lady Tams have three more chances to bolster their bid for a Final Four ticket when it goes up against Ateneo, Adamson and La Salle—in that order.

Host UP, which slid to 5-6 in the rest, can still complicate the race for a playoff race when it goes up against La Salle, UST, and Adamson.