FAR EASTERN University-Diliman secured the second spot in the UAAP Season 86 High School Girls’ Volleyball tournament Final Four following a 25-10, 25-10, 25-10 domination of University of the Philippines Integrated School yesterday at the Adamson Gym in Ermita, Manila.
The victory allowed the Lady Baby Tamaraws, who are now at 7-3, to join the league leaders Adamson University in the next round.
Adamson University extended its streak to 10 this season and moved two wins away from gaining an outright Finals berth with a quick work of also-ran Ateneo 25-6, 25-12, 25-5.
Setter Princess Tumayao steered the offense for FEU-D, taking the reins from Christine Ramos, to keep UPIS at bay in the middle part of the three frames of play.
Errors from the Lady Baby Tamaraws, especially at the onset of the first and third sets, gave a lease for life for Fighting Maroons and provided confidence to the latter’s attackers led by captain Janella Guarino.
“Siguro, ‘yung consistency talaga ‘yung gusto naming makita sa girls moving forward,” FEU-D head coach RJ del Rosario said.”Yung galaw nga mga bata, kailangang ma-polish pa namin para sa Final Four rin. Ready naman kami kahit sinong makalaban.”
“Yung fighting spirit, isa rin sa gusto kong madevelop pa nila. Tapos ‘yung communication and coordination nila sa loob ng court; ‘yun ang kailangan namin.”
With more clinical movement in the latter part of the third and final set, Tumayao found her points of attack with middle blocker Clarisse Loresco scoring on two of the FEU-D’s closing three points, one from a differential play and one from the center and sealing the squad’s Final Four spot.
UPIS remained winless in ten matches for seventh place.
In the other match, Celine Marsh and the National University Nazareth School did their part of the bargain in the Final Four race with a 25-12, 25-10, 25-17 sweep of its closest pursuer De La Salle Santiago Zobel School.
The Season 85 Second Best Outside Hitter and the rest of the Bullpups needed to fend off the gritty fight from the Junior Lady Spikers in the final set. Back-to-back blocks from Cheska Peñol and Kianne Olango extended the lead to 20-13 and the struggling titleholders found their finishing blow to take this crucial, bounce-back win.
