ATENEO assistant coach Sherwin Meneses lauded Far Eastern University’s defense that pushed the Lady Eagles to the limit, but was glad to escape with the win thanks to some late sloppy plays from the Lady Tamaraws.
FEU gave Ateneo no room to relax the whole game, but still succumbed to the Lady Eagles, 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 21-25,15-8 on Saturday.
The Lady Eagles were only able to heave a sigh of relief after Lady Tam Heather Guino-o's last shot went long at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
That error—the last of four for FEU in the fifth frame—allowed Ateneo to score their eighth straight win in the UAAP Season 79 women's volleyball tournament.
Meneses bared FEU's defense was simply hard to break the entire match, although it didn't stop Jho Maraguinot and Michelle Morente from putting up 23 and 15 points, respectively.
Still, Meneses was glad Lady Luck smiled on them in the end.
"Hindi ka talaga pwedeng magpahinga sa FEU, grabe yung depensa nila," said Ateneo Meneses.
"Buti na lang yung break napunta sa amin."
It was a good test for the Lady Eagles, who are now looking to clinch a top two spot that comes with a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
But Meneses said they know it won't come easy, adding they are taking it one game at a time.
"Kay coach Tai (Bundit) walang 8-1 or 9-1. Step by step talaga. Every game pinaghahandaan namin," said Meneses, whose team will face lowly squads Adamson and University of the East in its last four games.
"Syempre pagpapaguran pa rin yun sa gym, training pa rin ng mabuti. Kung ano resulta nung training everyday yun yung makukuha namin," he added.