FAR Eastern University sent Ateneo packing after a 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 25-13 win in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
A hat-trick of closely-contested sets was followed by a fourth set blowout through a late 13-5 blitz led by Faida Bakanke and Gerz Petallo.
Bakanke wound up with 19 points and was backed by Petallo's 13-point, 14-reception, 12-dig triple-double for the Lady Tamaraws' eighth win in 12 games.
The green-and-gold needs one more win in its last two elimination round matches to secure back-to-back Final Four appearances. Doing so would send them to their seventh semis trip in the last nine seasons.
For a shot at a twice-to-beat advantage, FEU must win both of its remaining assignments against Adamson and La Salle.
Bye, bye, Blue Eagles
Conversely, the Blue Eagles have been booted out of playoff contention with a 4-8 record.
Nonetheless, newly-converted utility winger AC Miner continued to impress in her new role with 17 points and eight digs, albeit in another losing effort.
This now becomes the third straight campaign that Ateneo will miss out on Final Four play after a school-best 11 consecutive semis trips from Seasons 72 to 84.
In that stretch, the blue-and-white reached the finals seven times and won three titles.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
