FAR Eastern University arranged a face-off with National University after sending University of Santo Tomas home, 25-22, 27-25, 25-18, in the stepladder semifinals of the UAAP Season 79 men’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan.
The Tamaraws will clash with No. 2 seed Bulldogs on Sunday at the MOA Arena after the win that left their coach Rey Diaz satisfied.
“Yes, nakuha ng mga bata ‘yung mga pinaghirapan namin. Good, at least napatunayan nila sa sarili nila na para sa amin talaga ang third place,” said Diaz. “Pero hindi pa naman kami tapos.”
Graduating player Greg Dolor led the way for FEU with 13 points, while Jude Garcia added 12 in a match that took an hour and 26 minutes to finish.
Down 10-16 in the third set, the Morayta-based squad clawed back with a 15-2 run to end the agony of the Tigers.
“‘Yung mga coaches ko, bakit daw hindi ako nagt-timeout? Eh malaki talaga ang tiwala ko sa team, tsaka alam kong kaya nila ‘yun. Napag-practice-an na namin ‘yun,” said Diaz.
Skipper Arnold Bautista Jr. was the lone player to score in double digits for UST with 12, Manuel Medina added nine points and Jayvee Sumagaysay had six.
FEU is hoping to make the most of its return to the Final Four after missing in the semifinals last year.
But the Tamaraws face a huge obstacle as the Bulldogs are armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
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