CHEF on a Diet-FEU battled back from two sets down and posted a 21-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12 squeaker over a stunned PGJC-Navy side in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila yesterday.
The Tams trailed in the third frame and barely pulled through in an extended battle but took the fourth on a fiery windup and completed their big fightback in the deciding set to join opening day winners EcoOil-La Salle and Fudgee Barr-Ateneo in the early lead in their respective groups.
FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo cited his wards’ coming-of-age and composure, saying: “Nakita namin ‘yung maturity ng bawat isa. Siguro baka kailangan lang panghawakan namin ‘yung moment na syempre kapag lumalamang yung kabila, ‘di mo pwedeng bitawan.”
They trailed the seasoned Stallions by one in the fifth set but Jerold Talisayan stepped up and scored two points in a big 3-0 FEU counter-attack that shoved the Tamaraws to a 12-10 lead.
Christian Marcelino fired an off-the-block hit in the ensuing Navy offensive but Lirick Mendoza hammered a quick hit and the Morayta-based squad moved to match point on a Joeven dela Vega attack error.
