FAR Eastern University held off a late University of the East comeback in five sets, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
As FEU’s potential fourth-set clincher slipped away late, Gerz Petallo bucked the squad’s late nerves with 18 points on 14 attacks, three blocks, and one ace.
READ: NU Lady Bulldogs dodge Ateneo upset in first 5-setter of UAAP Season 86
"Siguro naging hard 'yung game gawa ng both teams galing sa talo. Si UE galing sa talo sa UST, kami talo sa La Salle. Kaya siguro gusto pareho bumawi kaya ayun, naging maganda 'yung laban, 'yung iyong emosyon," said FEU head coach Manolo Refugia.
The tournament's second five-setter didn't just see the Morayta side survive a late scare for its second win, but it also bore witness to a historic scoring showpiece from UE super rookie Casiey Dongallo.
Dongallo's 30 attack points, including the last five points in Set 4 to force the decider, set a new UAAP women's volleyball scoring record for a rookie, eclipsing reigning rookie-MVP Angel Canino's 28-piece for La Salle versus Adamson in Season 85.
But even after Dongallo's rousing rookie display, Petallo & Co. had the last laugh after blazing to a 6-1 start in the fifth set and having just enough left in the tank to deny the Lady Warriors one final fightback.
"It pays off, yung lahat ng pinagtraining-an namin. kasi sobrang pinaghandaan talaga namin lahat ng mga games namin [kaya[ medyo overwhelmed kasi nga nagawa namin 'yun. Nagawa ko 'yun, and we did our best talaga," said Petallo.
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