FAR Eastern University did its part the hard way. Now, it waits.
The Lady Tamaraws stayed alive in the UAAP Season 88 women's volleyball Final Four race, surviving an early Ateneo scare to pull off a 22-25, 23-25, 25-12, 25-21, 15-11 reverse sweep in their elimination round finale on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was an unexpected uphill climb for the green-and-gold from two sets down just to keep its playoff hopes alive at the hands of the also-ran Blue Eagles who had nothing to lose and only a parting win in sight.
Still, with this pesky test out of the way, the job is only half done, as FEU needs University of Santo Tomas to lose to defending champion National U later in the day to force a playoff for No. 4 between the Lady Tamaraws and the Golden Tigresses.
FEU just does it
Gerz Petallo did it all for the Lady Tams with 17 points, 16 digs, and 11 receptions, while Lovely Lopez chipped in 13 points and 26 receptions.
Marga Encarnacion anchored the floor with 15 digs and 12 receptions, Tin Ubaldo dished out 22 excellent sets with six digs and three points, and Kyle Pendon added 13 points built on six blocks.
"'Yung pressure kasi, minsan nahihirapan silang i-embrace. At kailangan pa nilang mag-mature pa kasi may mga times na nagho-hold back kami sa nangyayari," said head coach Tina Salak.
J.Lo delos Santos and Jihan Chuatico powered Ateneo to an unlikely 2-0 lead in sets before FEU battled back with its season suddenly in peril, as Petallo sparked a dominant 20-7 surge in Set 3 and Lopez finished off Set 4 to force a decider.
In the fifth frame, errors took over both sides until the Lady Tamaraws just had enough to put away the spoiler-hoping Blue Eagles once and for all.
Dona de Leon led Ateneo with 15 points, while delos Santos added a 12-point, 11-dig, seven-reception all-around effort.
Ana Hermosura capped her rookie season with 10 points, 12 receptions, and nine digs, as senior Zel Tsunashima chipped in nine in the blue-and-white's final outing.
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