By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws sprang up a surprise on the final play date of the elimination round of Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines on Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Arena, checking the De La Salle Lady Spikers in five sets, 25-22, 13-25, 15-25, 27-25 and 15-8, to derail the latter in its bid to claim outright the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

While the game had no bearing for them since they were already assured of a semifinal spot as the number four team, the Lady Tamaraws (9-5) still showed with much drive and in the process dealt a huge blow to the top-two aspirations of the defending champions Lady Spikers (10-4), who with the loss had been forced to go through a playoff for number two against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses (10-4) on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Ateneo Lady Eagles secured the top seed heading into the Final Four with a three-sets win over the University of the East Lady Warriors, 25-20, 27-25 and 25-11.

Led by rookie Jolina Dela Cruz, the Lady Spikers raced to a 16-10 lead midway into the opening set.

FEU though would come charging back as Heather Guino-o and Czarina Carandang found their groove.

The Lady Tamaraws managed to tie the set at 18-all and then outscored La Salle, 7-4, the rest of the way to complete the comeback and earn a 1-0 lead.

La Salle, recognizing it let the opening set get away from it, showed more fire and determination in the second frame.

It built a 19-9 lead three-fourths of the way and went on to level the match at one set apiece.

The third frame had the teams tightly fighting, knotted at 12-all at the halfway point.

But the Lady Spikers would make a ferocious run as the set progressed on the lead of Tine Tiamzon and Aduke Ogunsanya, allowing the Lady Tamaraws only two points the rest of the way to go up, 2-1.

In the fourth set it was FEU which took early control, taking the first technical timeout, 8-7, and then building on it, 16-12, at the halfway point.

The Lady Tamaraws took a 20-16 lead after but the Lady Spikers answered with an 8-3 run to take the lead, 24-23, and go a match point away.

FEU, however, was not to be denied of the set win as Guino-o willed her team to a 27-25 victory to force a deciding fifth set.

Getting back the momentum in the previous set, FEU started the fifth strong, building an 8-4 advantage by the exchange.

It extended its lead to 10-5 and never looked back after as they went on to book the victory.

Guino-o led FEU with 24 points with Jerrili Malabanan adding 15.

Dela Cruz top-scored for La Salle with 22 points.

TOP-SEED ATENEO
Meanwhile, Ateneo will be the top seed when the Final Four commences after securing its 12th win of the season with a shutout victory over UE.

Needing to win to avoid any complication of snagging the number one spot, Ateneo (12-2) delivered from its end, banking on a solid and balanced attack and go-getting mindset.

The Lady Warriors started strong to begin the contest but the Lady Eagles caught up with them to take the first set.

In the second frame, UE came out with more fight in them and were actually a point away from claiming it, 24-21.

But the Lady Eagles, led by veterans Maddie Madayag, Ponggay Gaston and Kat Tolentino and with incessant prodding from coach Oliver Almadro, dug deep and steadily chipped away on UE’s lead, tying it first at 24-all before outlasting the latter and taking a 2-0 lead for the match.

In the third set, Ateneo sped to a big lead, 19-6, and never looked back on its way to the win.

Tolentino led the Lady Eagles with 11 points, eight off attacks, two from blocks and an ace.

“We just focused on the fundamentals and played our game,” said Tolentino of how they approached the contest, especially in the second set where they encountered some trouble.

She went on to say that they are happy to take the top spot but cautioned that the semifinals is a totally different game.

“Definitely a big boost in our confidence in taking the top seed but the playoff is a different game and we have to be ready,” said Tolentino.

UE finished Season 81 with a 3-11 record and saw stalwarts Kath Arado, Judith Abil, Roselle Baliton, Jasmine Alcayde and Lai Bendong play their last game after exhausting their UAAP eligibility.

Ateneo faces the FEU in the Final Four, which will begin later this week, with a twice-to-beat advantage.

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