THE Final Four cast is complete.
Far Eastern University clinched the last spot in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament with a hard-earned 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10 win over league-leader University of Sto. Tomas on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Faida Bakanke fired a career-high 21 points on 15 attacks, four blocks and one ace to help the Morayta side snap its run of seven straight losses to their España counterparts dating back to Season 81 in 2019.
READ: UST, La Salle, NU in tight race for twice-to-beat spots. See SCENARIOS
With their seventh win of the season, the Lady Tamaraws joined the Tigresses, La Salle and National University in the Final Four, in the process slamming the semifinal door on Ateneo (3-8), Adamson (3-8) and University of the East (2-8).
"Napakasarap ng feeling kasi siyempre, 'yun ngang glory days ng FEU ay parang pilit naming binabalik. Ngayon, nandito na kami ngayon sa Final Four. Masaya, pero hindi pa natatapos yung trabaho eh. Andito na kami, eh 'di mangarap na kami nang sobra-sobra," said FEU's first-time head coach Manolo Refugia.
"Talagang gusto naming bumawi. Gusto naming mapakita after ng loss namin sa first round kaya namin bumawi sa second round kaya ang laking bagay nitong pagkapanalo namin kasi pwedeng 'yung win na 'to ang magpasok sa amin sa Final Four and nangyari na," said FEU senior Jean Asis, who came in clutch with four markers in FEU's 6-0 run in the fifth set.
The longtime UAAP rivals went back-and-forth en route to sudden death just like their first-round matchup. But unlike the first time, the Lady Tamaraws held the Tigresses at bay through a hard-hitting one-two punch in Bakanke and Asis.
FEU scoring ace Gerz Petallo pitched in seven markers and came alive on defense with 14 receptions and 13 digs, while Tin Ubaldo orchestrated the winning performance with 21 excellent sets.
On the flip side, it might have been business as usual for Angge Poyos with 20 points in her first game back since dealing with dehydration but head coach Kungfu Reyes bared that Poyos dealt with recurring chills in the home stretch which hampered her performance.
Reg Jurado (15 points) and Jonna Perdido (12 points) aided Poyos' team-leading scoring exploits but just fell short in the end. Despite the result, UST keeps hold of the league lead at 10-2 with two matches left against UE and La Salle.
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