WHILE they still went the distance, the Lady Tamaraws finally found their way.
Far Eastern University denied yet another National U's comeback with a 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25, and 22-20 win in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jaz Ellarina landed the game-winning serve, her only one in the match to cap her six-piece, converting FEU's sixth match point in what has been the longest five-setter of the season yet.
The two-time defending champions’ struggles continued, now having dropped two of their last three games and slipping to third-place at 6-3, with the Lady Tamaraws sporting the same slate, but moving ahead on match points, 19-17.
The win marked the green-and-gold's fifth in its last six outings, while also avenging its sorry loss to NU back in the first round.
Heroic two-way efforts from Faida Bakanke and Lovely Lopez powered Far Eastern University to a statement bounce-back win.
Bakanke led the charge with 22 points and 11 digs, while Lopez delivered a monster outing of 19 points, including eight in the fifth set, to go with 25 receptions and 14 digs as the Lady Tamaraws avoided a losing encore.
Aly Devosora also stepped up in the clutch with 16 points, 11 receptions, and eight digs, while Cla Loresco chipped in eight points and three digs.
Setter Tin Ubaldo orchestrated the offense with 20 excellent sets and added seven points and five digs in an all-around effort.
Fifth-set sprint
With National U stealing the first two tight sets and FEU responding in the next two, the match went the distance just like their first-round meeting.
This time, however, the ending belonged to the Lady Tamaraws.
The Lady Bulldogs moved to match point twice behind attacks from Vange Alinsug and Sam Cantada, but FEU responded with poise.
The Lady Tamaraws then reached match point five times and were denied just as many, with the first three squandered on service errors.
Alinsug and Chams Maaya erased two more, but Lopez delivered her eighth point of the fifth set before an Ellarina serve clipped the back line to seal the win and deny National U any chance of a comeback.
Cantada’s 20-point, 20-reception, 13-dig triple-double went for naught, as did Alinsug’s 19 points and 14 digs. Arah Panique also impressed with 16 points and 10 digs, while Maaya anchored the net with five blocks and Abe Pono dished out 27 excellent sets with seven points.
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