By Angel Joyce C. Basa

Extending their winning streak to three, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws trounced the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-13, 25-21, 25-16, to gain a lone third-seed standing in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women's volleyball tourney today, March 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Morayta-based volleybelles gave UP an early beating in the first set with team captain Gerzel Petallo scoring back-to-back opening points courtesy of an attack and a block before a 10-3 run, 13-4.

FEU continued to build on their strong momentum, eventually ending the set with a 12-point advantage, 25-13.

In the second frame, the Diliman-based team gained the upper hand to give the Lady Tamaraws their first setback, forcing an even-match sequence until Faida Bakanke’s momentum-breaking attack, 17-17.

The green-and-gold squad succeeded in regaining control of the match, relying on Alyzza Devosora’s late attack and service ace to go up two-nil against UP, 25-21.

By the last set, the Petallo-led team banked on the Fighting Maroons’ errors and late off-the-bench points from Lovely Lopez to clinch the dub, 25-16.

During the postgame conference, FEU head coach Tina Salak gave props to the team's performance, highlighting their connection and leadership skills in attaining the hard-earned win.

“Today’s performance, bigay ko talaga sa [team]. ‘Yung effort nila [at ‘yung] leadership, of course, not more on making points, it's more on how to connect dun sa players na involved sa team (I have to hand today's performance to the team. It's their effort and their leadership, of course it's not more on making points. It's more on how they connect with the players involved in the team),” she said.

Three Tamaraw volleybelles tallied double digits with Devosora leading at 15 points from 13 attacks and two service aces, Player of the Game Petallo with 13 markers, and Clarisse Loresco with 11.

Senior setter Tin Ubaldo also bolstered the team's statistical record with 22 excellent sets.

With a stellar performance, Devosora acknowledged how she focused on improving and showing up for herself in order to give her best to the team.

“Magsisimula pa rin [ako] sa sarili ko. Kaya rin masyado akong focused masyado sarili ko sa mga nakaraang araw kasi gusto ko [na] bago ako makatulong sa team, kailangan ko munang magpakita sa sarili ko then i-a-apply ko sa team (I will always start with myself. The reason why I am more focused on myself these past few days is because before I could help the team, I wanted to show up for myself then apply it to the team),” she shared.

Now on a 4-2 win-loss standing, the Lady Tamaraws look to finish the first round on a high note against the University of Santo Tomas on Saturday, March 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

(Photo by Melvin James Urubio/FEU Advocate)